The IDF announced on Monday that it had stopped an effort to illegally bring weapons into the country from Jordan, marking the biggest seizure of smuggled weapons during the war. The Israeli Military sent troops to the location after lookouts spotted three suspects crossing the border.
The alleged smugglers managed to avoid being caught, however, they abandoned three bags holding 75 handguns and multiple weapon parts. The weapons that were confiscated will be examined further.
Police and IDF prevented an effort to illegally transport around 75 handguns and numerous assault rifle components from Jordan into the West Bank during the night.
Soldiers watching surveillance cameras detected three individuals crossing the Jordanian border, and soldiers sent to the area found three bags containing firearms and weapon components, according to police and the IDF.
Security personnel are still on the lookout for the smugglers.
Israeli security agencies have expressed worry that Iran has been escalating its attempts to smuggle weapons into the West Bank for terrorists to use in attacks against Israelis.
In March of last year, the Shin Bet and IDF revealed a scheme by Iran to smuggle various weapons, such as rockets, cluster bombs, landmines, 13 anti-tank missiles, and 25 grenades. The smuggling operations led by the IRGC Quds Force also resulted in the discovery of 50 handguns, 33 M4 rifles, and RPGs.
Smuggling weapons poses a persistent challenge for Israel along its extensive and permeable eastern border with Jordan, as well as in the West Bank.
Israeli authorities report that Iran has recently intensified its attempts to smuggle weapons to terrorist organizations operating in the West Bank. Furthermore, a significant number of smuggled firearms into Israel are utilized for criminal activities within the underworld, another increasing issue for Israeli police and the IDF to deal with.