On Monday, Israeli security officials announced that they seized a large shipment of “advanced” weapons from Iran that were purportedly for use by West Bank terrorists. The military materials were said to be from an organized smuggling project directed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel in Syria.
The plot was said to have been uncovered during interrogations of captured Palestinian militants who had been arrested under suspicion of planning attacks against Israelis.
In a statement from the Shin Bet, authorities identified Jawad Ghafari as being the organizer of the illicit activity. The Iranian general is known to Israel’s security services as being the IRGC’s special operations chief in Syria.
The investigation also named a Lebanese-based Fatah associate, Munir Makdah, as participating in the arrangements.
The confiscated munitions reportedly include anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers, fragmentation bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, landmines, explosives, detonators, and a variety of small-arms.
On March 11, Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, accused Tehran of attempting to destabilize areas outside of Gaza by introducing “high-quality” arms to West Bank terror groups.
In August, The IDF disclosed that they intercepted a consignment of Iranian weaponry being transported across the Jordanian border. In that incident, the authorities speculated that the destination was also in the West Bank.
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