JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Palestinian opened fire with a submachine gun on Israeli soldiers stationed in the West Bank.

The Israeli soldiers returned fire in the Wednesday morning incident, killing the attacker, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The attack took place near the Ateret settlement, located north of Ramallah. The gunman had been working near the soldiers’ post in recent days on a road repair project by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Haaretz reported.

The Palestinian fired 17 rounds from his Carl Gustav submachine gun, Haaretz reported citing an unnamed military source. It is not known if the shooter was a member of a terrorist group or was acting alone or where he got the gun.

“IDF soldiers acted swiftly and professionally to prevent casualties,” IDF spokesman Lt.-Col. Peter Lerner said after the incident. “We will continue to stand guard and protect Israeli civilians from terror acts such as this one.”