Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Documented proof of Iranian complicity in arms smuggling to terrorists


IMF


On Tuesday (November 3, 2009) a special Israeli naval force detained and boarded the Francop, a merchant ship flying the flag of Antigua, about 100 miles west of the coast of Israel and destined for the Syrian port of Latakia.For the next part of this post, you are advised to go to the original source to view the many photos I cannot post on docstalk-go to www.mofa.gov.il

Hidden among the dozens of other containers on board, and disguised as civilian goods, the ship contained thirty-six shipping containers with 500 tons of weaponry en route to the Hizbullah terrorist organization in Lebanon. A total of about 9,000 mortar bombs of different types were seized, along with about 3,000 Katyusha artillery rockets, 3,000 recoilless gun shells, 20,000 grenades and over a half million rounds of small arms ammunition.

Iran routinely smuggles weapons to insurgent groups it supports. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards transfer their shipments over air, sea, and land routes, and do not hesitate to make use of civilian facilities, many times without their knowledge.

An examination of the munitions seized proves conclusively that the source of the arms was Iran. This is clear both from the shipping documents and the markings on the munitions themselves.



I. Shipping Method and Documentation:



a.




The ship’s manifest, proving the cargo was being transported by the Iranian company IRISL

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b.




Labeling on some of the containers showing that the transport company was based in Ispahan, Iran.

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c.




IRISL (Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines) containers found on board the Francop.

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d.




Ministry of Sepah (Iranian Revolutionary Guard) labels attached to the cargo.

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e.




Containers stuffed with polyethylene sacks used to camouflage the munitions. According to the English and Farsi markings, the polyethylene was produced by Iran’s National Petrochemical Company, whose telephone number was given as 9821 [98 is Iran’s international dialing code] +8788987

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f.




Further proof of Iranian attempts to conceal weapons: Rockets packed in cases marked "Parts of Bulldozer"

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Additional picture of rockets packed in cases marked "Parts of Bulldozer" and "Construction Equipment"

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II. Munitions:

Among the arms seized, Israel discovered thousands of rounds of mortar bombs and artillery rockets manufactured by the Iranian defense industry:

1. 107mm Artillery Rockets (Haseb): 2,124 of these rockets were found on board the Francop.





107mm artillery rocket found on the Francop

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107mm rockets found concealed on the Francop

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These rockets are identical to those used by Iraqi insurgents who, in July 2007, attacked the multi-national force's Forward Operating Base Hammer in Iraq's northern Besmaya Range complex.



One of the 107 mm rockets found by soldiers of the 789th EOD team near FOB Hammer in July 2007 (Photo source: Multi National Force-Iraq via ConfederateYankee blog)

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b.


Additional proof of Iranian complicity in the illegal shipment is the large number of AZ111-A2 fuses found on board. These fuses are manufactured solely by the Iranian armament industries and were found affixed to the 9,000 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortar bombs which were concealed in the shipment. According to Jane's Ammunition Handbook, Iranian ordnance developed the AZ111A2 fuse specifically to meet Iranian Army requirements.



Cases of 60mm mortar bombs with packing list showing AZ111-A2 fuses included in shipment.

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60mm mortar bomb case detailing fuse type AZ111-A2

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81mm mortar bomb case detailing fuse type AZ111-A2

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AZ111-A2 mortar fuse attached to 81mm mortar bomb.

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120mm mortar bomb with AZ111-A2 fuse attached

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Packing list on crate of 120mm mortar bombs, including fuse type AZ111-A2

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