Israel thwarts major Iranian weapons smuggling plot to terror cells in Judea and Samaria

According to the ISA, the discovery followed the recent arrest of an arms dealer from the Ramallah region.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A joint operation conducted by the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), security forces foiled a major weapons smuggling attempt from Iran aimed at supplying terrorist groups in Judea and Samaria.

According to the ISA, the discovery followed the recent arrest of an arms dealer from the Ramallah region.

Intelligence gathered during his interrogation revealed connections to international smuggling networks, leading investigators to the latest shipment and those transporting it.

The shipment, intercepted early Wednesday, contained advanced weaponry that officials said could have significantly worsened the security situation in the area.

Among the seized arms were anti-tank rockets, claymore mines, drones capable of carrying explosives, hand grenades, and machine guns.

The cache was reportedly dispatched by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Special Operations Directorate, headed by Javad Ghaffari, and by the Quds Force special operations division under Asghar Baqeri.

In July, two senior Quds Force operatives—Qassem Al-Hasini and Mohammad Shaib who were killed in Lebanon had been involved in orchestrating terror activities and facilitating arms transfers to operatives in Judea and Samaria, according to ISA.

Israeli officials said the operation exposed yet another Iranian effort to destabilize the region by arming terror cells to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel.

The seized arsenal included 29 Kalimagur devices, four drones (two designed for explosive use), 15 anti-tank rockets, one RPG launcher with three additional launchers, 20 hand grenades, 53 pistols, seven assault rifles, nine machine guns, and 750 rounds of ammunition.

“The ISA and the IDF will continue to act resolutely to track and disrupt any Iranian attempt to smuggle weapons into Judea and Samaria, in order to safeguard the security of civilians and forces operating in the area,” the agencies said in a joint statement.