November 4, 2009

500 Tons of Weapons for Hezbollah Intercepted by Israeli Navy, 4 Nov 2009

Iranian Weaponry Aboard Francop

Massive Arms Shipment Intended for Hezbollah Intercepted by Israel Navy

Roughly 500 tons of weapons, rockets, and missiles was uncovered aboard the cargo vessel “Francop” flying an Antiguan flag, which was intercepted and brought to the Ashdod port. The Israel Navy force which intercepted the ship included naval commandos, missile boats, intelligence and explosive experts.

36 shipping containers with 500 tons of weaponry were found on the ship disguised as civilian cargo, and hidden among hundreds of other containers onboard.

Israel Naval and Engineering Corps forces are currently unloading the containers and are sorting through the various types of weaponry found aboard.

The naval commando force boarded the vessel and conducted an initial search. The search was conducted in accordance with the usual search protocols as dictated by International Law.

Following the initial search and after it became clear that the vessel was carrying weapons, the vessel was directed by the Israel Navy to dock at the Israeli Ashdod Naval base for additional searches and a detailed inspection of the hull’s cargo. It should be emphasized that the captain of the ship agreed to the search. The Israel Navy conducted all activity without any force.

The weapons found onboard the ship originate from Iran, and were intended for the Hezbollah terror organization, for use against the State of Israel and its citizens. The weapons uncovered at sea last night constitute a harsh violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1747 and 1701 that strictly forbid Iran from exporting or trading any form of weapons.

This is a well-known Iranian technique, taking advantage of cargo ships flying different flags in order to smuggle containers loaded with large amounts of highly volatile weaponry to terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah.

Following the necessary inspections of the boat, it is expected to be released.

The overnight operation was authorized by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense of the State of Israel. Commander of the Israel Navy, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Marom, commanded the operation from a forward command cell. The IDF Chief of the General Staff authorized the operation, after the confirmation of intelligence information gathered by the IDF.

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November 4, 2009

List of Past Iranian Attempts to Smuggle Weapons, 4 Nov 2009

List of Thwarted Iranian Attempts to Smuggle Weapons in Recent Years

December 2001 – The Karin A ship, loaded with weapons in Iran, bound for the Gaza Strip, was sailing towards Egypt with the intention of unloading its cargo there.  Small fishing boats were meant to pick up the cargo and deliver it to the Gaza Strip. The ship, loaded with rockets, anti-tank rockets, and light arms, was seized on January 3rd, 2002 by Israeli Naval Commandos.

Weaponry found on the Karin A

Weaponry found on the Karin A

December 2003 – January 2004 - The Iranian Revolutionary Guard directed an aerial convoy to transfer weapons and supplies to Hezbollah via Syria. The aerial convoys were disguised as humanitarian aid intended for casualties of an earthquake in Bam, a city in southern Iran. The Iranians took advantage of the open airspace by trying to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah while humanitarian aid flights were landing in Iran from all over the world.

May 2007 – An Iranian train carrying arms (mortar shells, light arms, rocket launchers and ammunition) was uncovered in Turkey. The arms were intended for Hezbollah. The Iranians attempted to conceal and disguise the arms in order to avoid suspicion by the Turkish authorities.

January 2009 – An arms shipment sent by Iran was intercepted and seized in Cyprus after it was found on the Cypriot vessel Monchegorsk which had been leased by the Iranian Irisl shipping company. The Cargo was found to include tank, artillery and mortar shells as well as materials to be used for producing rockets.

The Monchegorsk

The Monchegorsk

October 2009 - The Hansa India, which sailed from Iran flying a German flag was due to unload a cargo of eight containers in Egypt. Following warnings from the German authorities the vessel was not unloaded and continued to Malta where it was seized and found to be carrying bullets and industrial material intended for the production of weapons, seemingly bound for Syria.

Hansa India

The Hansa India

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November 4, 2009

Israel Navy Intercepts Weapons Cargo, 4 Nov 2009

Overnight, special forces of the Israel Navy intercepted a cargo vessel loaded with weaponry carrying an Antiguan flag, some 100 miles west of Israel’s coast. This incident was part of the Navy’s routine activity to maintain security and prevent arms smuggling.

After the Navy conducted an initial check, they uncovered various types of ammunition and arms on board disguised as civilian cargo.

Following this initial check, the weapons-laden ship was directed to an Israeli port so as to enable further searches on board and a detailed inspection of the cargo.

It should be emphasized that IDF forces and the Israel Navy conduct routine intensive operations for security purposes, in order to combat terror and to prevent arms smuggling on various fronts.

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October 21, 2009

Canadian Defense Staff Chief Comments on Goldstone Report, 21 Oct 2009

During Visit, Canadian Defense Staff Chief Comments on Goldstone Report

21 October 2009

The Canadian Armed Forces Chief of the Defense Staff, General Walter J. Natynczyk,  finished a three day professional visit to Israel yesterday, October 20th, 2009. In an interview with the IDF military journal BaMahane (“In the Camp”), the general commented on the Goldstone report, saying:

“I’ve got to look through the whole report and read it through myself. But I fully understand how when someone is attacked from houses, family houses, and so on, that there is a responsibility to protect oneself and protect civilians. I want to have a look at the report myself and understand the full context. I have just had a great education in terms of where weapons were fired from and so on. I want to look at the report in terms of how does it describe it… My impression of the Gaza Strip up to now has been through media reports. Now I got to actually see the size, the space, the context… It just puts into perspective many of the reports and also the operations that were conducted before.”

Gen. Natynczyk arrived in Israel on Sunday for a three day work visit as guest of the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Over the course of the three days, Gen. Natynczyk held meetings with Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi, and Israel’s Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak, and toured Israel.

Gen. Natyniczyk toured the skies of Israel by helicopter, and visited both the Northern Command and the Southern Command. In Israel’s north, the general visited the Galilee Division and the Israeli northern community of Mizpe Benaya. In addition, the general was briefed by senior officers of the Northern Command, regarding Israel’s relations with Syria and Lebanon, and observed Israel’s border area with the two countries.

The Canadian Armed Forces Chief of the Defense Staff also visited the IDF Southern Command and the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration in Erez, and was briefed regarding Operation Cast Lead as well as the various weapons systems used by IDF forces in their day-to-day activity.

Towards the end of his visit, General Natynczyk toured the Tel-Nof Air force Base in central Israel, where seniors in the Ministry of Defense Administration for weaponry research and Technology Development presented him with newly developed Israeli technologies.

General Natynczyk related to the similarities between what is required of Israel and what is required of his country as part of the battle against terror, saying: “I’m not sure if the Israeli standpoint is that much different than the Canadian standpoint, having had the experience in Afghanistan.” The general also said: “We have really come to understand and appreciate what the Israeli forces have had to counter for quite some time and the techniques, the way and the procedures that the Israeli military has adopted and evolved over the past few decades.” He added: “We’re learning what can we adopt from Israeli forces that will enable us to reduce risks to our people”.

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September 28, 2009

IAF Targets Rocket Ready to be Fired at Israel 28 Sept 2009

September 28th, 2009

IAF Targets Rocket Launcher Ready to be Fired at Israel

A short while ago, in a joint IDF and ISA operation, an Israel Air Force air-craft targeted and identified hitting a rocket launcher ready to be fired at Israel.

Approximately 55 rockets and mortar shells were launched at Israel during the last three months, totaling more than 250 since the end of Operation Cast Lead and more than 750 in 2009. Furthermore, throughout 2008, over 3300 rockets and mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel.

The IDF will respond harshly to any attempt to break the calm in Israel’s southern communities.

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September 26, 2009

IAF Targets Three Terrorists Preparing to Launch Rockets 26 Sept 2009

September 26th, 2009

IAF Targets Three Terrorists on Their way to Launch Rockets at Israel

Last evening, Friday, September 25th 2009, An Israel Air Force air-craft targeted and identified hitting three terrorists east of Gaza City who were on their way to fire rockets at Israel’s southern communities.

The three terrorists hit were Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives residing in Gaza City, and part of a terrorist cell that has been firing rockets into Israel for the past few weeks, including rockets that hit the city of Sderot during the holiday of Rosh HaShana (the Jewish New Year) a week ago. The names of the three terrorists are Mahmoud Mussah Rammadan Bana, Kamel Hamdan Ibrahim Dakhdukh and Mohamed Salem Barawi Marshoud.

Approximately 50 rockets and mortar shells were launched at Israel during the last three months, totalling more than 250 since the end of Operation Cast Lead and more than 750 in 2009. Throughout 2008, over 3300 rockets and mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel.

The IDF will respond harshly to any attempt to break the calm in Israel’s southern communities.

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September 22, 2009

Israeli Arab Attempts to Run Over IDF Soldiers 22 Sept 2009, 10:45 IST

September 22nd, 2009

Israeli Arab Attempts to run over IDF soldiers at checkpoint near Bethlehem

This morning, an Israeli man from East Jerusalem attempted to run over IDF soldiers at the Beitar checkpoint near the city of Bethlehem. The driver ignored calls to undergo the required security checks, accelerated towards the soldiers and drove through the crossing.

The forces searched the area for the vehicle and finally identified it in a nearby gas station. The soldiers directed the driver to stop the vehicle. The driver did not abide by their calls, and instead attempted to run them over.

The soldiers first fired warning shots in the air, then at the tires of the vehicle and when the driver still refused to stop they fired towards him. A paramedic team arrived at the scene and confirmed his death.

The investigation of the incident is ongoing.

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September 20, 2009

IDF Kills 2 Terrorists Planting Explosives Along Gaza Fence 20 Sept 2009 21:45 IST

September 20th, 2009

IDF Soldiers Kill Two Terror Operatives Planting Explosives Along Gaza Security Fence

This afternoon, an IDF armored force identified two terror operatives planting explosive devices along the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. The soldiers on the scene fired tank shells and mortar fire, and identified hitting the suspects.

The two men, both in their early twenties, Abed al-haft Chalil al-Silawai and Machmud Achmed Muhammed Nazir, are known for recently planting explosive devices along the Gaza security fence and are responsible for firing mortar shells into Israeli territory.

Abed Silawai was an active member of the Popular Resistance Committee and Machmud Nazir was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Moreover, Abed Silawai and Machmud Nazir are responsible for firing three rockets into Israeli territory on August 24th and injuring an Israel Defense Forces soldier in the same incident.

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September 17, 2009

IDF Removes 100 Roadblocks in Judea & Samaria, 17 Sept 2009, 10:20 IST

September 16th, 2009

Removal of One Hundred Road Blocks in Judea and Samaria

Today, following the directives given by the Israeli government, the Israel Defense Forces began removing 100 road blocks in the Judea and Samaria region. The removal of these road blocks will improve traffic between rural areas and villages to the central transportation arteries in Judea and Samaria. The decision to carry out these improvements was made in accordance with the directives of Defense Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak, and in light of security assessments by the IDF Central Command and the Chief of the General Staff, Lietenant General Gabi Ashkenazi.

The IDF will remove road blocks over the next several days, a process expected to end by the Eid ul-Fitr holiday next week. The decision is a continuation of the government policy to improve the economic situation in the region while maintaining the operational flexibility of the Israel Defense Force and security forces.

The IDF will continue to act in accordance with the decisions of the Israeli government and security assessments in order to improve the quality of life of the Palestinian population in the Judea and Samaria region and to secure the safety of Israeli citizens.

IDF Soldiers remove roadblock

IDF Soldiers remove roadblock

IDF Soldiers remove roadblock

IDF Soldiers remove roadblock

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September 15, 2009

5 Tanzim Militants Arrested in July and August, 15 Sept 2009, 17:00 IST

Arrest of Tanzim Operatives in July and August

15 September 2009

Five Tanzim terrorists  (Fatah’s militant wing) from the village of Silwad near Ramallah were arrested in a joint IDF and ISA operation during the months of July and August. The militants were connected to the local militant Fatah bloc and are responsible for carrying out a number of terrorist attacks in the area and on Road 60, a central passageway for Israeli vehicles.

On July 9th, 2009 at around 06:00, a number of gunshots were fired at an Israeli vehicle traveling near Silwad. After an initial investigation, security forces arrested Maharan Iad and Tzalch Chamed, two Palestinian men from Silwad. Both men were arrested in the past on account of their active participation and membership of a militant Fatah group known for acting against those who allegedly cooperate with Israel.

During the investigation, the two gunmen admitted to carrying out the attack with the help of Mustafa Chamed, another Tanzim activist who was also arrested. Maharan Iad, who was arrested twice in the past and lived in the U.S. from 2006 to May 2009, admitted to planning the attack with Tzlach and Mustafa over the course of a few days during which they looked for the optimal location to carry out the attack. The investigation also showed that both Mustafa and Tzlach were involved in at least one gun attack in the area during 2005.

Two additional Tanzim activists, Jamil Chamed and Rami Chamed, also from Silwad, were arrested during the course of the investigation. The two men admitted to active participation in a number of terror attacks during the Second Intifada. Rami Chamed admitted to his direct involvement in four separate terror attacks during investigation. 

The ISA and IDF view arrests of this kind as part of their targeted activity to thwart and stop terror in Silwad. These attacks were carried out by village residents, members of the Tanzim terrorist bloc, some of who are also members of the Palestinian Authority security apparatus.

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