Israel Cracks Ring of Iran-Backed Bomb Smugglers

Latest Developments

A West Bank terrorist ring responsible for smuggling military grade explosives from Jordan into Israel was cracked, said Israel’s security agency. The Shin Bet reported on September 5 after the filing of indictments that Israel detained three suspects — two Arab citizens of Israel and a Palestinian — in early August in the West Bank city of Tulkarm with four bombs and four pistols in their possession. The agency added that the suspects told interrogators they worked on behalf of members of the Iran-backed terrorist group Islamic Jihad based in the flashpoint West Bank city of Jenin.

The news followed an overnight military raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp near the West Bank city of Tulkarm in which Israeli troops uncovered a bomb cache and killed an Islamic Jihad terrorist after he opened fire on them.

Expert Analysis

“This case is an example of Iran’s multi-front hostilities toward Israel involving Israeli Arabs, West Bank Palestinians, neighboring Jordan, and one of the most active Tehran-sponsored terrorist groups, Islamic Jihad. One hopes that Amman is mounting similarly determined intervention on its side of the border.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“The regime in Iran continues its tenacious efforts to arm militants in the West Bank. It continues to exploit the Jordanian border to do so. And it continues to push the West Bank toward lawlessness amidst the unraveling of the Palestinian Authority. The tipping point for all of this has not yet been reached. But it will come eventually, which will give way to intensified Israeli military action.” — Jonathan Schanzer, FDD Senior Vice President for Research

“Palestinian Terror Attack Kills One Israeli, Injures Six,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Arrests Four Citizens for Smuggling Iran-Made Explosives,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran and Its Network of Nineteen Terrorist Organizations on Israel’s Borders,” by Joe Truzman

“Post Jenin Operation, Questions Linger About the State of the West Bank,” by Joe Truzman