Israeli troops backed by dozens of army jeeps and tanks raided Jericho on early Tuesday and beleaguered the prison, which holds a number of Palestinian militants involved in attacks on Israeli targets, said the witnesses.

Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli operation was aimed at arresting Ahmed Saadat, leader of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), who has been jailed in the Jericho prison for connection with the assassination of an Israeli minister.

The jail has been under control of the U.S. and British guards.