In recent months, the Israel Security Agency made a significant seizure of advanced weaponry in its ongoing efforts to thwart Iranian attempts to smuggle potent arms into Judea and Samaria, the domestic intelligence service announced on Monday.
Iran had been actively engaged in smuggling sophisticated weapons, including Iranian-manufactured anti-aircraft arms, into Judea and Samaria with the aim of facilitating major terrorist attacks against Israel.
The Israel Security Agency (also known as Shin Bet) and the IDF successfully exposed and foiled these smuggling efforts. They detained and interrogated Palestinians known for their involvement in terrorist activities, leading to the identification of Munir Makdeh, a Palestinian resident of the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon.
Makdeh, known to collaborate with Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been implicated in orchestrating terror attacks and recruiting Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to assist in transferring Iranian weapons and funds to terror cells.
The smuggling operations were orchestrated by Division 4000, the special operations division of the IRGC’s intelligence wing led by Javad Afari, and the special operations unit in the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria.
As a result of the investigation into Makdeh’s activities, Israeli forces intercepted a significant Iranian shipment destined for Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank.
The confiscated arsenal included two large BTB15 fragmentation bombs, five YM-2 anti-tank landmines with fuses, four M203 grenade launchers, 15 kilograms of C4 explosives, 10 kilograms of Semtex plastic explosives, 13 anti-tank missiles, 15 RPG launchers, 16 RPG-7 rockets and propellants, 15 hand grenades, 33 M4 assault rifles, and 50 handguns.
Senior IDF officials described these weapons as a “game changer” for Judea and Samaria, necessitating a shift in military strategy and protection measures.
The Shin Bet emphasized its commitment to monitoring and thwarting any activities directed by Iran and its affiliates that pose a threat to the security of Israel and its citizens.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has repeatedly warned against Iranian efforts to destabilize the West Bank, expressing concerns about escalating tensions during Ramadan. Gallant highlighted Iran’s smuggling activities aimed at increasing the severity of attacks with high-quality weapons.
Last year, the IDF successfully prevented another smuggling attempt involving Iranian-made explosives from Jordan into Israel.
