Issues

Khamenie Haniya
Iran

Army says some rockets, mortars fired from Gaza were made in Iran

Some of the dozens of mortars and rockets fired into Israel by Gaza-based terrorists on Tuesday were made in Iran and smuggled into the Strip, the army said.

In a statement, the army said that during the day more than 70 mortars and rockets were fired, with many intercepted. “Among the munitions fired at Israel were also rockets manufactured in Iran,” it said. It gave no details on the types of rockets.

IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said in separate comments that some of the mortar shells appeared to be an Iranian-made variety that had been smuggled into the coastal enclave.

Israel and Egypt impose a blockade on Gaza to try and prevent the terror groups there smuggling in arms. In particular, Israel wants to avoid a repeat of the situation in Lebanon where Iran managed to supply Hezbollah with tens of thousands of rockets and missiles. Hezbollah is reported to have some 140,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles that can reach anywhere in Israel.

Iranian-made rockets of the kind held by Hezbollah are more sophisticated, with a far greater range and accuracy, than the home-made Kassam rockets manufactured in Gaza by Hamas and the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The IDF’s revelation that Gaza terror groups are using Iranian-made rockets came after the new Gaza leader of Hamas said last month it had restored relations with Iran and was gearing up for future hostilities with Israel.

Yahya Sinwar told reporters that Iran is now “the largest backer financially and militarily” of Hamas’s armed wing. He was speaking at his first meeting with journalists since taking up his post in February.

Sinwar said that with Iran’s help, Hamas was accumulating military power in preparation for a battle for “the liberation of Palestine.”

Read More: Times of Israel