The Battle of Nablus was fought from 5 to 8 April 2002 as the Israel Defense Forces cleared the West Bank city of Nablus of Palestinian militants.
During the Second Intifada, the Palestinian city of Nablus, and especially its Casbah, became centers of Palestinian resistance to Israel. Hamas and Fatah launched dozens of suicide bombers from Nablus, while hundreds of armed men entrenched themselves in the city. Two days after the start of Operation Defensive Shield, the IDF approved an extension of their operation north to Nablus and Jenin.The West Bank Division was entrusted with clearing Nablus, and, while the division was among the most experienced in the IDF, one reserved armor platoon nearly mutinied due to their lack of proper training for urban warfare; high-ranking armor officers eventually talked them into joining the operation. Israeli armored and infantry forces quickly occupied most of the city, with clashes taking place around refugee camps. Two battalions simultaneously attacked the Casbah, which was held by small squads of Palestinians. The Israeli paratroopers took over several houses in the Casbah and used sniper fire to pick off Palestinians engaging Israeli forces in another direction, and Palestinian commander Ahmed Tabouk was among those killed by sniper fire. On 8 April, the Palestinians announced their wllingness to surrender. Meanwhile, Qalqiliyah and Tulkarm surrendered almost without Palestinian casualties. Hundreds of Palestinians were arrested during the operation, and the IDF exposed Palestinian explosive labs.