IDF conducts ‘largest yet’ operation to seize illegal weapons

Israel’s security forces operate day and night to prevent Palestinian terrorism, this time going after the enablers and weapons suppliers in a massive operation.

The IDF, working with Israel’s police and the Shin Bet (Israel’ Security Agency), conducted a massive counter-terrorism operation on Monday night to arrest Palestinian weapon dealers and to shut down illegal weapons production plants.

The raids were conducted in the Bethlehem and Hebron areas.

An IDF spokesman stated it was the largest such operation to be conducted in the past year.

The forces located and shut down seven workshops that operated 22 metal works machines used to make guns, and seized 54 assault rifles and handguns, ammunition, gun parts and other weapons.

The forces also arrested two Palestinian arms dealers, including a suspect the Shin Bet said was a prominent figure in the illegal arms market.

Since the beginning of 2016, Israeli forces have shut down 29 weapons production plants in the Judea and Samaria regions and have seized 49 machines and over 300 weapons.

The IDF pointed out that since the beginning of the year, over 30 Palestinian terror attacks have been committed using firearms, and 30 percent of the terrorists who have committed attacks during this time period came from the Hebron area.

Israeli forces have arrested more than 140 suspects tied to the production and selling of illegal weapons, used in many cases against Israel’s civilians.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News