Israel Intercepts Weapons Cache Smuggled From Jordan

Latest Developments

Israeli police intercepted an attempt to smuggle weapons from Jordan on September 9. According to the police statement, soldiers from the Darom District Defense Unit and customs inspectors discovered 74 Glock handguns and 61 magazines inside a Mitsubishi vehicle at the Yitzhak Rabin Crossing near the southern Israeli city of Eilat. The vehicle was attempting to cross into Israel from Jordan. The driver and passenger — one a resident of the Bedouin town of Bir Hadaj and the other from a Bedouin community near the Yeruham outpost — were arrested, and an investigation is underway. The police did not specify what they believed to be the destination of the shipment. Guns smuggled illegally from Jordan often end up in the hands of criminals in Israel — where ownership of guns is strictly regulated — or Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank.

Expert Analysis

“In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in attempts to smuggle arms to terrorists and criminals who threaten Israel. This has fueled Palestinian terrorist groups in the West Bank. The recent discovery of smuggled weapons from Jordan is an important step in countering the threat.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Jordan has long been in the Islamic Republic’s crosshairs, and Iran is now capitalizing on regional instability to use Jordan as a transit hub for its proxies in the West Bank. With Jordan already stretched thin, it faces considerable challenges in countering the Iranian proxy threat along its borders with Syria and Iraq. However, given that the security coordination between Israel and Jordan remains a cornerstone of their bilateral relations, the two countries will certainly continue to collaborate closely in addressing the shared Iranian threat to their national security.” — Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Research Analyst

Weapons Smuggling Through Jordan

In April 2023, Israel arrested Jordanian lawmaker Imad al-Adwan for allegedly trying to smuggle weapons and gold through the Allenby Bridge Crossing. Adwan attempted to cross the border between Jordan and the West Bank with 12 rifles and 194 pistols in his car. In August 2023, Israel arrested two Arab citizens of Israel and one Palestinian in possession of four bombs and four pistols in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Israel’s security agency later reported that the arrests helped them crack a terrorist ring responsible for smuggling military-grade explosives into Israel from Jordan. In November, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted a shipment of 120 handguns, 17 M16s, 250 magazines, and numerous weapon parts. According to i24 News, the shipment was valued at approximately $1.6 million, and authorities arrested two suspects, both from Yeruham. On January 1, the IDF announced that it thwarted an attempt to smuggle 75 handguns and dozens of weapon parts from Egypt in three bags. During the incident, the three smugglers were able to escape arrest. On May 15, Jordan intercepted an arms shipment intended for a Muslim Brotherhood cell inside the Hashemite Kingdom sent by Iran-backed terrorists in Syria.

Increased Iranian Threats to Israel via Jordan

Iran has been seeking to destabilize the Kingdom of Jordan and threaten Israel by smuggling weapons and materiel through Jordanian territory. “In the first stage, they smuggle weapons into the Kingdom of Jordan, mainly through the Syrian border, attempting to destabilize the regime and turn the Israel-Jordan border from a peaceful one into a volatile front,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote in a statement on social media on August 29.

Related Analysis

“Jordanian Terrorist Kills Three Israelis in Attack at West Bank Border Crossing,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Attempts to Destabilize Jordan,” FDD Flash Brief

“Jordan Foils Iranian Plot to Smuggle Weapons Into the Kingdom,” FDD Flash Brief

“Jordanian MP Who Smuggled Weapons into West Bank Repatriated by Israel,” FDD Flash Brief