JENIN, West Bank (AP) – Israeli soldiers shot and killed three Palestinian gunmen Friday in an exchange of fire near the West Bank town of Jenin, the Israeli army said.

Palestinian security said it knew of an exchange of fire in the Jedida village near Jenin but did not know of any casualties. Palestinian militants present in the area at the time said they witnessed an exchange of fire between soldiers who had surrounded a house and three Islamic Jihad militants located inside. They did not know if anyone was hurt.

The army said that the three militants had fired at an Israeli force operating in the area. When the soldiers returned fire, the three were hit, the army spokesman. No soldiers were hurt, the spokesman said.

The troops were on routine patrol in the area, the army said.