Israeli forces shot and wounded an assailant who stabbed and lightly wounded a soldier in the occupied West Bank on Friday, the army said.  

"An assailant stabbed an IDF soldier during operational activity adjacent to the security fence in Gush Etzion," a Jewish settlement bloc south of Jerusalem, an army statement said.

"The force responded, firing towards the assailant."

Medics said the soldier was lightly wounded. There was no immediate word on the assailant's condition.