'NATO seizes Iranian arms smuggling en route to Taliban'

Report: Intel official says 122 mm. rockets are most powerful yet to be smuggled to Afghanistan; convoy capture on Iranian, Pakistani border.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Mortar rockets on display (R) 311 (photo credit: REUTERS/Ali Jasim)
Mortar rockets on display (R) 311
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ali Jasim)
NATO forces intercepted the most powerful Iranian-made rockets ever smuggled to the Taliban in Afganistian, The Associated Press sited an international intelligence official as saying Wednesday. The rockets were to be used for the Taliban's spring campaign.
NATO troops captured a three-truck convoy carrying 50 122 millimeter rockets in Southern Nirmuz, near the Iranian and Pakistani borders, the official said.
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The Associate Press reported rockets are capable of being fired up to 13 miles away from the target, and have an 80 foot explosion, a figure double that of what was previous provided to the Taliban from Iran since 2006, the official said.
In December 2010, Shin Bet reported that Iran had smuggled into the Gaza Strip about 1,000 mortar shells, hundreds of shortrange rockets and a few dozen advanced anti-tank missiles throughout the year.
Iran has continued to be Hamas's chief arms provider, smuggling through Sudan and Sinai.
Yaakov Katz contributed to this report.