Israeli counterterrorism officers arrested a wanted suspect in Nablus overnight Monday in a covert operation directed by Shin Bet intelligence, according to Israeli authorities.

The 37-year-old suspect was wanted in connection with his previous activity in Lions’ Den, the Nablus-based armed organization that rose to prominence in 2022. Authorities said he had continued working to advance terrorist activity and was suspected of attempts to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians.

YAMAM officers, acting on intelligence from the Shin Bet, secretly approached the suspect and took him by surprise. He was arrested without injuries to the Israeli forces and transferred to the Shin Bet for further questioning.

Palestinian sources identified the arrested man as Fatah al-Ashqar, reporting that Israeli special forces detained him near the municipal stadium in Nablus. That name was not given in the Israeli authorities' initial announcement.

Additional reports citing Palestinian sources described al-Ashqar as a former Lions’ Den commander who had also served in the Palestinian Authority security apparatus. The official Israeli account confirms his past involvement with Lions’ Den but does not independently confirm those additional details.

The arrest comes years after Israeli security forces conducted extensive operations against Lions’ Den in 2022. Israeli authorities said the suspect had remained wanted since his activity with the organization.