Iran Aiming to Exploit Anarchy in Post-Mubarak Sinai

(Jerusalem Post) Yaakov Katz - Iran is working to bolster its weapons-smuggling infrastructure in the Sinai Peninsula to smuggle advanced weaponry in large quantities into Gaza, as anarchy continues to prevail in Egypt following the toppling of Mubarak. "They are building new capabilities, upgrading smuggling mechanisms and studying the new military presence there to see how it will affect them," a senior Israeli defense official said. Egyptian security forces were working to crack down on smuggling efforts by building an underground steel wall and by using American tunnel-detection technology. Israel also fears that the Sinai will turn into a launch pad for attacks into Israel. Egyptian police authorities have abandoned dozens of police stations throughout the peninsula after they were attacked by Bedouins armed with missiles and assault rifles. This concern was behind Israel's decision to permit close to 1,000 Egyptian soldiers to deploy in Sharm e-Sheikh and Rafah.


2011-02-28 00:00:00

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