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Hamas Fights with Weapons from Iran, China, Russia and North Korea
(AP-Washington Post) Michael Biesecker - An AP analysis of videos and photos from three months of combat in Gaza shows that Hamas has amassed an arsenal of weapons from around the world - much of it smuggled past a blockade that was aimed at stopping such a military buildup. These include Iranian sniper rifles, AK-47 assault rifles from China and Russia, and North Korean- and Bulgarian-built rocket-propelled grenades. Experts who reviewed the images were able to identify distinguishing features and markings that show where many of the weapons wielded by Hamas were manufactured. Many of the weapons appear to be relatively new. "The majority of their arms are of Russian, Chinese or Iranian origin, but North Korean weapons and those produced in former Warsaw Pact countries are also present in the arsenal," said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of the Australian-based Armament Research Services. An Israeli military official said most of the smuggled weapons are believed to have been brought in through Egypt.