Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military to carry out an operation in the occupied West Bank, following the explosion of three buses in a suspected terrorist attack near Tel Aviv.
No casualties were reported and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions.
In Bat Yam, two bombs exploded in buses parked in a warehouse, authorities said. A third explosion was reported in Holon from an explosive device placed on a third bus.
Photos from Bat Yam showed two burned buses in the depot and forensic personnel working at the scene.
Meanwhile, an unexploded explosive device was discovered on a fourth bus, the police report said.
Israel increased security and halted bus and train operations across the country after the explosions, which a statement from Netanyahu's office called an "attempt to carry out a chain of massive bus bombings."
After meeting with the defense minister, the head of the Israel Defense Forces, and senior security and police officials, Netanyahu "ordered the IDF to carry out an intensive operation against centers of terrorism" in the West Bank, according to the statement.
“The prime minister also ordered the Israel Police and (the Israel Security Agency) to increase preventive activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities,” he added.