Israel Thwarts Major Weapons Smuggling Attempt From Iran to West Bank Terror Groups

Latest Developments

• Security Agency Foils Iranian Smuggling Operation: Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, revealed on October 8 that it had foiled an Iranian attempt to smuggle large quantities of weapons to terror groups in the West Bank. The shipment contained 29 claymore-type explosives, four drones of which two were explosive, 15 anti-tank missiles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 20 hand grenades, 53 pistols, seven rifles, nine machine guns, and 750 rounds of pistol ammunition. The Shin Bet previously intercepted similar weapons shipments from Iran in March and November 2024.
• Months of Work Led to Interception: The weapons shipment was intercepted after the IDF arrested a Ramallah-based weapons dealer in the West Bank, who subsequently led security forces to the cache. The Shin Bet said that Unit 4000, a special operations branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Unit 18840, another special operations unit of the IRGC’s Quds Force, were responsible for the most recent operation as well as previous attempts to smuggle weapons into the hands of Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank. “This shipment, like its predecessors, is part of an ongoing Iranian effort to undermine security in the region by arming terror cells on the ground whose purpose is to carry out attacks against Israelis and IDF troops,” the Shin Bet stated.
• IDF Operations Expand in West Bank: Meanwhile, the IDF said that it had conducted three simultaneous brigade-wide operations in the West Bank overnight on October 8. Forces from the Binyamin Brigade operated in parts of Ramallah —specifically in the Jalazone and Qalandiya refugee camps — searching over 180 sites and arresting three terrorists during the mission. In tandem, the Ephraim Brigade seized Hamas flags and other incitement materials in the West Bank cities of Qalqilya and Tulkarem, additionally locating and destroying a pipe bomb. Troops from the Judah brigade also carried out operations in the Hebron area, arresting a suspected terrorist, confiscating weapon parts, and searching other sites in the region.

FDD Expert Response

“This latest seized shipment — packed with claymore mines, drones, rockets, grenades, rifles, and machine guns — shows again how Iran’s IRGC, through Units 4000 and 18840, is working relentlessly to flood the West Bank with weapons. Their goal is simple: arm Palestinian terror cells to kill Israelis and destabilize the region.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“While Iranian efforts to arm Palestinian terrorist groups in the West Bank are nothing new, the nature of the weapons being smuggled is deeply troubling. Tehran is not only sending rifles and pistols; it is attempting to move advanced, destabilizing systems that could transform the security landscape in the territory. These are game-changing weapons capable of inflicting mass casualties against IDF troops or civilians. The Israeli security establishment has every reason to view Iran’s renewed efforts to destabilize the West Bank with serious concern.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israeli operation kills 2 Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in West Bank,” by Joe Truzman

“IDF Arrests West Bank Terror Cell Producing Rockets To Launch at Israel,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Seizes Deadly Iranian Weapons Destined for West Bank Terrorists,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Intercepts Advanced Iranian Weapons En Route to West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief