Iranian Bombs Smuggled Through Europe to Hezbollah

The Telegraph newspaper reported on the smuggling of Iranian bombs through Europe that Hezbollah uses against Israel.

British newspaper The Telegraph reported in recent coverage that the Islamic Republic of Iran is using European ports to send weapons to its supported group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The terrorist group Hezbollah receives missiles and bombs from ships docking at ports in Belgium, Spain, and Italy.

A senior Israeli intelligence source said regarding the maritime transport of these weapons: “The use of European ports helps conceal cargo, change the original loading location by replacing bills of lading, and also exchange containers.” According to published reports, the Israeli Air Force targeted shipments that were entering Syria via land routes from Iraq, which prompted the Islamic Republic to resort to transporting weapons through Europe; since Europe has large ports and the Iranian government has exploited them, using these ports as a cover for transporting its own weapons.

Ronen Solomon, an independent analyst in Israel, said regarding the transport of these weapons: “Iran directly sends weapons to Syria. Using separate routes through Europe is to legitimize the cargo and divert attention from direct weapons shipments to Syria. The reason we are witnessing Iran’s efforts to transfer weapons via sea is that Israel has targeted air and ground infrastructure in Syria and Lebanon, and therefore we have witnessed an increase in container shipments.”

The mentioned weapons are transported to Latakia port in Syria before the ships move to the ports of Antwerp in Belgium, Valencia in Spain, and Ravenna in Italy, so that the final destination remains hidden.

According to Solomon’s statements, Iran’s corridors to Syria and Lebanon via land, air, and sea remain continuously active. He added in his remarks: “Iran’s weapons also reach Hamas, and routes that include Egypt and Libya are used to send weapons to Hamas in Gaza. The movement of ships and containers through Europe, particularly under the cover of companies based in countries like Romania, helps the Iranian government with its concealment activities.”

According to information obtained by Ronen Solomon regarding weapons transport, since the start of Hamas attacks in September against Israel, five Iranian ships have been loaded from Bandar Abbas bound for Syria. The mentioned weapons were then transferred to Hezbollah in coordination with the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. He continued: “Libya has long been known as a route for transporting weapons to Hamas via Rafah in Egypt, and this could apply to the latest shipments sent to Hamas as well; since Egyptian inspections are not conducted in the same manner as they are in Israeli farms.”