¡¡  JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli troops entered the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank early Friday, reports reaching here said.

¡¡¡¡More than 20 Israeli tanks and other armored vehicles rolled into the city at around 3:30 am (0030 GMT), followed soon by gunfire and explosions, according to local residents.

¡¡¡¡Jenin and the adjacent refugee camp have been regarded by Israelis as strongholds for Palestinian militants. The Friday operation was launched after an Israeli assault on the Jenin refugee camp last month. More than 50 Palestinians, including civilians, as well as 23 Israeli soldiers were killed in more thanone week of a fierce fighting.

¡¡¡¡Israeli authorities have denied a Palestinian accusation that Israeli forces massacred Palestinians during the April attack on the Jenin camp, which accommodated about 15,000 people.

¡¡¡¡In six weeks since the end of March, Israeli forces temporarily entered the Palestinian-ruled cities and towns in small-scale operations to attack suspected terrorist targets. How long the current Israeli operation on Jenin will last remains unknown.

¡¡¡¡Earlier, Israeli forces reoccupied the West Bank towns of El Bireh, near Ramallah, and Tulkarem. Enditem