Shin Bet: Iran's Plan to Smuggle Weapons to the West Bank Foiled

Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet, claimed it recently thwarted efforts by the Islamic Republic of Iran to smuggle large shipments of weapons to terrorist operatives in the West Bank. According to the Times of Israel, Shin Bet states that behind these efforts is 'Unit 4000' of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a special section within the IRGC's intelligence organization led by Jawad Ghafari, as well as a section known as Unit 18840, which is the special operations unit of the Quds Force in Syria and reports to the head of Unit 840. The Times of Israel reported that this conspiracy was revealed by Shin Bet and the Israeli army during interrogations of detained Palestinians suspected of planning terrorist attacks. Shin Bet also indicated that investigations revealed that a senior Fatah official residing in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon was involved in these plots, working to recruit Palestinians from the West Bank for terrorist attacks and to smuggle Iranian weapons, as well as financing the attacks. Shin Bet stated that the Israeli army seized a significant amount of advanced weapons from Iran that had been smuggled to the West Bank. Among the seized weapons were several bombs, anti-tank mines, grenade launchers, explosives, shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles, RPG launchers, rockets, 33 M4 assault rifles, and 50 handguns. Shin Bet mentioned that they, along with the Israeli army, are in the process of locating other Iranian weapons smuggled into the West Bank and are also targeting or arresting members of the terrorist cells related to this case. The Israeli Defense Minister stated that the Iranian government is seeking terrorist attacks in the West Bank. Israel described a plan by four European countries to recognize a Palestinian state as 'a reward for terrorism.' The European Union unanimously sanctioned a group of West Bank settlers. Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza continued.