Iranian ship that intended to smuggle weapons. . Photo: Archives, IDF Spokesperson

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Over the last decade, security forces have been conducting intensive surveillance after Iranian weapons were smuggled to Hamas, in Gaza, and Hezbollah, in Lebanon. During the Second Lebanon War, equipment such as Katyusha rockets and RPG anti-tank missiles bearing the stamp of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards was captured by IDF forces. It was then clearly demonstrated that Iran was regularly providing weapons to terrorist elements.

The "Al-Quds" is the Revolutionary Guards branch that carries out international activities. It was established in the 90's with the intention to export the Iranian revolution.  The Al-Quds main activities took place in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, however over the past years they have also been linked to global terror activities. Iranian smuggling routes pass through the air with the use of civilian flights; on land with trains and trucks from Iran through Syria into Lebanon; and by sea using civilian ships operating under different flags, sometimes without any knowledge, from the crew itself, that the cargo contained weapons.

The largest smuggling capture in recent years was the interception of the Karin A ship on January 2002 near Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. That day, following information received by the IDF Corps, Air Force helicopters landed on the ship while naval commando fighters raided the ship. On board were two Palestinian police officers, three Lebanese civilians (including a Hezbollah activist) and five Egyptian citizens.

Fifty tons of Iranian made weapons were found on board the ship in sealed containers. IDF estimates that the weapons were intended for use by Palestinian terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. The cargo contained among other things: Katyusha rockets, mortars, missiles, several types of guns, RPG launchers and mines.

In recent years, there were several thwarted attempts by Iran to smuggle weapons. Between the months of December 2003 and January 2004, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards tried to airlift weapons to Hezbollah through Syria with the cover that the flights contained equipment for the victims of the earthquake in southeast Iran.

 In May 2007, a train was discovered in Turkey with weapons hidden in civilian shipments. The military equipment was intended for Hezbollah and the Iranians were trying to hide the transfer from Turkish authorities.

In January 2009, a ship was detained in Cyprus with large amounts of military equipment. The ship was leased by the Iranian shipping company Irisel.

In October 2009, the Hansa India ship, which sailed under the German flag was expected to unload 8 suspicious containers in Egypt. Due to the German authorities orders the ship was unable to unload the containers and continued with them to Malta. The ship stopped in Malta where ammunition and equipment for weapon production was found, apparently intended for Syria.