Israeli intelligence satellites have spied the loading of rockets and other
material in Iran believed to be destined for the Gaza Strip, the UK-based Sunday
Times reported, citing Israeli officials.
According to the report, Iran
began preparing the weapons shipment around the same time Israel and Hamas
negotiated a cease-fire late last week.
The shipment is said to include
Iranianmade Fajr-5 medium-range rockets, the same model that was fired toward
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during Operation Pillar of Defense, the Sunday Times
reported.
Last month, following an air attack on a weapons plant near
Khartoum, the Defense Ministry’s director of policy and political-military
affairs accused Sudan of acting as a transit point for weapons shipments to
Gaza. Amos Gilad accused Khartoum of aiding and abetting terrorism, and said the
Sudanese regime was “supported by Iran” and was used as a route to transfer
weapons to Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip via Egypt.
Sudan accused
Israel of attacking the military plant.
The Sunday Times report also
cited Israeli officials speculating that Iran could be moving longer-range
ballistic missiles into Sudan, which could be aimed at Israel from the African
country.
The official added that Tehran would act to re-arm Hamas and
other Gaza groups quickly, as it sees them as a necessary part of its response
to a possible Israeli attack against Iran.
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