السبت، 26 مايو 2012

Iran: Training and Arming Terrorist Groups that Target Israel

Iran

: Training and Arming Terrorist Groups that Target Israel

جاء في التقرير السنوي الأخير الذي صدر عن وزارة الخارجية الأمريكية في شهر آب/ أغسطس 2010 أن إيران ما تزال أكبر دولة راعية للإرهاب. [1]

وأضاف التقرير أن "الدعم المالي والمادي واللوجستي الإيراني للإرهاب والميليشيات المقاتلة في جميع أرجاء الشرق الأوسط ووسط آسيا كان له تأثير مباشر على الجهود الدولية في تعزيز السلام وعمل على تهديد الاستقرار الاقتصادي في منطقة الخليج وتقويض التقدم في الديمقراطية." [2]

Its Qods Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – a branch of the Iranian military – has a long history of supporting terrorist organizations targeting

Israel

Iran

provides funding, material support, training and intelligence services to its three main proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC).[1] These terrorist groups, which share the same basic ideological goals as Iran’s leadership, are extensions of Iran’s military network. They act as proxies for Tehran by attacking Israeli targets while providing plausible deniability for the Iranian government on the international stage.[2]

Iranian funding of Hezbollah

ووفق ما ورد في تقرير وزارة الخارجية، فإن "إيران قدمت مئات الملايين من الدولارات دعماً لمنظمة حزب الله وعملت على تدريب آلاف المقاتلين الذين ينتمون لمنظمة حزب الله في معسكرات في إيران." [3]

Iran has provided Hezbollah with weapons, funding, guidance, and intelligence,[3] transferring over $200 million to Hezbollah annually,[4] in addition to an estimated $300 million after Israel’s defensive war with Hezbollah in 2006.[5]
The Qods force has trained at least 4,500 Hezbollah fighters in the use of anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, surface-to-surface missiles and rockets, and unmanned aerial vehicles at camps inside Iran, and actively operates training facilities in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.[6]
Iranian aid to Hezbollah increased after Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 as Hezbollah expanded its military force in preparation for conflict. These preparations culminated in Hezbollah’s illegal cross-border attack on an Israeli border patrol in July 2006, sparking the 34-day Hezbollah-Israel war.[7]
Hussein Ali Suleiman, a member of Hezbollah involved in the July 2006 abduction of Israeli reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, admitted being trained in Iran along with 40-50 other Hezbollah members.[8]
Iran has been rearming Hezbollah since the end of the 2006 war.[9] It is estimated that Hezbollah now has roughly 40,000 rockets and missiles in its possession – 26,000 more than before Israel’s defensive war against Hezbollah, according to Israeli intelligence reports.[10] The newly replenished arsenal includes about 10,000 long distance rockets.[11] Almost all of Israel is within range of these rockets.[12]
Hezbollah has 500 Iranian “Zelzal” long-range missiles with ranges of 77, 136 and 186 miles,[13] and an additional 4,000-6,000 Iranian “Fajr 3” and “Fajr 5” rockets with ranges of 27 and 46 miles respectively.[14]
Iranian missile supplies generally reach Hezbollah in Lebanon by sea or overland routes via Syria,[15] though Iran is also transporting arms to Hezbollah by air using both civilian and military aircraft.[16] Some of the longer range missiles, capable of reaching southern Israel from Beirut, are clandestinely transported through Turkey.[17] In May 2008, the Turkish army found a concealed weapons shipment, including rockets, missiles, guns and ammunition, en route from Iran to Syria intended for Hezbollah.[18]

في شهر تشرين الثاني/ نوفمبر عام 2009، اعترضت قوة إسرائيلية من الكوماندوز البحرية سفينة على بعد 100 ميل من الشاطئ الإسرائيلي كانت محملة بأسلحة في طريقها إلى حزب الله. وكانت السفينة التي ترفع علم جزيرة "أنتيغوا" ومتوجهة إلى ميناء لاتاكيا السوري تحمل 500 طن من الأسلحة المخفية بين عشرات الحاويات الأخرى المحملة ببضاعة تجارية. هذا وقد تم احتجاز ما مجموعة 10000 قذيفة هاون من أنواع مختلفة بالإضافة إلى نحو 3000 صاروخ مدفعي من طراز كاتيوشا و 3000 قنبلة رشاش عديمة الارتداد و 2000 قنبلة يدوية وما يزيد عن نصف مليون طلقة للأسلحة الخفيفة. [4]

Iranian funding of Hamas

Iran has openly admitted its support for Hamas, an Islamic Palestinian group committed to the destruction of Israel and the replacement of the Palestinian Authority with an Islamic state on “every inch of Palestine.”[19]
From 1993-2006, Iran’s financial support of Hamas was estimated at $30 million annually.[20] It has increased to several hundred million annually since then.[21]
Since Hamas’ January 2006 electoral victory, funding has increased significantly. In April 2006, Iran pledged $50 million in aid to Hamas.[22] In November 2006, Iran donated $120 million to Hamas.[23] In December 2006, Iran pledged an additional $250 million to the terrorist organization.[24] In May 2008, Iran promised another $150 million to Hamas for the second half of 2008.[25]
In addition, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has trained approximately 950 Hamas operatives in building rockets and bombs, tactical warfare, weapons operation, sniper tactics, explosives detonation, and other terrorist and guerilla warfare techniques, similar to those commonly used by Hezbollah.[26] The training has taken place in Iran and Syria.[27]
In 2008, Iran assisted Hamas in upgrading its mortar shell arsenal for attacks on Israeli communities bordering Gaza.[28]
In the past two-and-a-half years, dozens of Iranian-manufactured Grad rockets and mortar shells have been launched from Gaza at areas in Israel’s western Negev region and the city of Ashkelon.[29]
In a meeting with Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal in May 2008, Iran promised to provide Hamas with long-range missiles. Both Iran and Hamas claimed that they would amass arms regardless of any peace negotiations between Israel and Syria.[30]
In January 2009, more than 70,000 Iranian college students from universities throughout Iran volunteered to serve as suicide bombers to carry out attacks against Israel. This rush of volunteerism came after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, delivered a religious decree stating that anyone who carried out an attack against Israel on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza would be considered a martyr.[31]

Iranian funding of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

Iran is directly involved in providing financing, guidance and military training to PIJ, a Palestinian terrorist organization committed to Israel’s destruction and the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state.[32]
PIJ is funded almost exclusively by Iran [33] and receives most of its material support from the Qods force, a unit of Iran’s Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution that focuses on organizing and executing Islamic revolutionary movements abroad.[34]
PIJ officials live in Syria but keep a permanent representative in Iran, and travel there frequently to strengthen its ties with the Islamic Republic.[35]
In 2001, Ayatollah Ali Khameini pledged to increase Iran’s funding of PIJ by 70 percent to recruit young Palestinians for suicide attacks in Israel.[36]
PIJ has carried out 422 bombings, shootings, and stabbings, killing 134 Israelis and wounding 880.[37]
A Palestinian intelligence official revealed that Iran promised a $10,000 reward if PIJ launched an attack from the West Bank to Tel Aviv.[38]
In 2003, PIJ became one of the first terrorist organizations to use women as suicide bombers.[39]
In 2005, Iran provided $10 million to the PIJ, double the amount from 2004.[40]

Iranian funding of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC)

The PFLP-GC is a secular Palestinian organization with a strong military focus that rejects any political settlement with Israel.[41] The PFLP-GC began receiving funds from Iran after it was expelled from Libya in 1989.[42]
The PFLP-GC’s relationship with Iran is primarily for purposes of transferring arms to Hamas and the PIJ,[43] though it also operates Iranian training camps in Syria and Lebanon.[44]
In September 2006 the U.S. Treasury Department blacklisted Saderat, one of Iran’s largest banks, citing the transfer of funds to the PFLP-GC, among other terrorist organizations.[45]

Other Iran-financed attacks against Israeli civilians:

In 2002 the Israel Navy intercepted "Karin A," a ship carrying 50 tons of advanced weaponry and rockets supplied by Iran and Hezbollah that was destined for Gaza to supply Palestinian terrorist groups.[46]
In April 2003, Iranian money designated for charity paid for a terror attack outside of a train station in the Tel Aviv suburb of Kfar Saba. When security guards who were suspicious of the terrorist asked for documents, the terrorist detonated the bomb. The attack killed one Israeli and injured 14 others.[47]
In January 2003, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard funded a suicide attack in Tel Aviv through Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, military wing of Fatah under Arafat’s authority at the time.[48] The attack in the central bus station of Tel Aviv killed 22 Israeli and foreign civilians and injured more than 100 others.[49]
In April 2008, the Israel Defense Forces arrested Iranian-trained terrorist and would-be suicide bomber Ala Abu Madif, in southern Gaza. Madif had been involved in missile launches into Israel’s western Negev region and was planning to carry out a suicide bombing at the Kissufim crossing between Israel and Gaza. In Iran, Madif underwent physical training, navigation, weapons training (including light and heavy weapons operation, anti-tank weapons and hand grenades), target practice, assembly and operation of explosive devices and indoctrination lessons teaching Israel and the U.S. as the sources of evil.[50] [51]

[1] U.S. Department of State, “Designation of Iranian Entities and Individuals for Proliferation Activities and Support for Terrorism,” Oct. 25, 2007, retrieved July 6, 2008, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/oct/94193.htm

[2] O’Brien, James M., “Exporting Jihad: Iran’s use of non-state armed groups” The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy & The Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies, presented at 47th Annual International Studies Association, March 22, 2006

[3] O’Brien, James M., “Exporting Jihad: Iran’s use of non-state armed groups” The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy & The Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies, presented at 47th Annual International Studies Association, March 22, 2006

[4] “Country Reports on Terrorism 2008,” United States Department of State Publication; Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, April 2009, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/

[5] Partlow, Joshua, "U.S.: Iran, Hezbollah Training Iraqi Militants," The Washington Post, July 2, 2007 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/02/AR2007070200174.html?hpid=topnews

[6]Fisk, Robert, “Hizbollah turns to Iran for new weapons to wage war on Israel,” The Independent, Apr. 8, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/hizbollah-turns-to-iran-for-new-weapons-to-wage-war-on-israel-805763.html; “Hezbollah as a strategic arm of Iran,” Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies, September 8, 2006, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/iran_hezbollah_e1b.htm

[7] "Hezbollah as a strategic arm of Iran," Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies, Sept. 8, 2006, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/iran_hezbollah_e1b.htm

[8] "Hezbollah as a strategic arm of Iran," Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies, Sept. 8, 2006, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/iran_hezbollah_e1b.htm

[9] Charlaff, Joe, “Hezbollah rearming could have far reaching consequences for US,” HS Today, April 9, 2008, http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/2825/152/

[10] Harel, Amos, “Defense officials: Renew diplomatic pressure on Syria as Hezbollah rearms,” Haaretz, July 13, 2008, http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/1001037.html

[11] Rotella, Sebastian, “In Lebanon, Hezbollah arms stockpile, bigger, deadlier,” The Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2008, http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/04/world/fg-hezbollah4

[12] “Israel’s Barak warns of growing Hezbollah arsenal,” Reuters, Sept. 10, 2008, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LA318892.htm

[13] Rotella, Sebastian, “In Lebanon, Hezbollah arms stockpile, bigger, deadlier,” The Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2008, http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/04/world/fg-hezbollah4

[14] Rotella, Sebastian, “In Lebanon, Hezbollah arms stockpile, bigger, deadlier,” The Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2008, http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/04/world/fg-hezbollah4

[15] Charlaff, Joe, “Hezbollah rearming could have far reaching consequences for US,” HS Today, April 9, 2008, http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/2825/152/

[16] Rotella, Sebastian, “In Lebanon, Hezbollah arms stockpile, bigger, deadlier,” The Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2008, http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/04/world/fg-hezbollah4

[17] Ravid, David, “Iran Rearming Hezbollah via Turkey, MI says,” Haaretz, March 6, 2008, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/960878.html

[18] Rotella, Sebastian, “In Lebanon, Hezbollah arms stockpile, bigger, deadlier,” The Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2008, http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/04/world/fg-hezbollah4

[19] “Hamas Backgrounder,” Council on Foreign Relations, June 8, 2007, retrieved July 10, 2008, http://www.cfr.org/publication/8968/#2

[20] Wurmser, Meyrav, “Iran-Hamas Alliance,” Hudson Institute, Oct. 4, 2007, https://www.hudson.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=publication_details&id=5167

[21] “Iranian Support of Hamas,” Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Jan. 12, 2009, p. 20, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/iran_e004.pdf

[22] Hamas Gets $50 M Boost From Iran,” CBS News, April 16, 2006 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/16/world/main1501210.shtml

[23] “Iran increase Palestinian aid to 120 million dollars,” Agence France-Press, Nov. 18, 2006.

[24] “Iranian Support of Hamas,” Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Jan. 12, 2009, p. 20, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/iran_e004.pdf

[25] “Iran Said to Continue Military, Financial Aid to HAMAS,” Al-Sharq al-Awsat, May 26, 2008

[26] “Senior Hamas operative figure tells London Sunday Times’ Gaza Strip correspondent about Iranian and Syria military aid, detailing the training received by hundreds of Hamas terrorist operatives and describing the transmission to Hamas of Iranian technical know-how for the manufacture of rockets and IED,” The Intelligence and Terrorist Information Center, Mar. 17, 2008,

http://www.terrorisminfo.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hamas_160308e.htm;

Colvin, Marie, “Hamas wages Iran’s proxy war on Israel,” The Times, Mar. 9, 2008,

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3512014.ece; Hamas," Council on Foreign Relations Web site, retrieved July 7, 2008, http://www.cfr.org/publication/8968/

[27] “Senior Hamas operative figure tells London Sunday Times’ Gaza Strip correspondent about Iranian and Syria military aid, detailing the training received by hundreds of Hamas terrorist operatives and describing the transmission to Hamas of Iranian technical know-how for the manufacture of rockets and IED,” The Intelligence and Terrorist Information Center, Mar. 17, 2008,

http://www.terrorisminfo.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hamas_160308e.htm;

Colvin, Marie, “Hamas wages Iran’s proxy war on Israel,” The Times, Mar. 9, 2008,

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3512014.ece; Hamas," Council on Foreign Relations Web site, retrieved July 7, 2008, http://www.cfr.org/publication/8968/

[28] Greenberg, Hanan, “Security source: Usage of mortars—to avoid a response,” Ynet News, http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3542070,00.html (Translated from Hebrew)

[29] Hamas," Council on Foreign Relations Web site, retrieved July 7, 2008, http://www.cfr.org/publication/8968/

[30] Dahar, Kaid, “Iran promises to supply Hamas with long-range missiles,” MSN News, May 25, 2008, http://news.msn.co.il/news/StatePoliticalMilitary/Military/200805/20080525074131.htm (Translated from Hebrew)

[31] “Iran says 70,000 volunteer for Israel fight,” The Associated Press, Jan. 5, 2009,

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g3Y3DBA09cm20SrlOg47GI4Ixp4gD95H5LI00

[32] “Iranian activities in support of the Palestinian intifada,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 23, 2003, retrieved July 8, 2008

[33] “The Islamic Jihad,” YnetNews, Dec. 22, 2007, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3484933,00.html

[34] “List: Sanctioned Iranian Groups, People,” The Associated Press via SFGate, Oct. 25, 2007, retrieved Sept. 3, 2008, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/25/national/w134555D43.DTL

[35] “Iranian activities in support of the Palestinian intifada,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 23, 2003, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/1/Iranian%20activities%20in%20support%20of%20the%20Palestinian%20i,

[36] “Iranian activities in support of the Palestinian intifada,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 23, 2003, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/1/Iranian%20activities%20in%20support%20of%20the%20Palestinian%20i,

[37] “The Islamic Jihad,” Ynet, Dec. 22, 2007, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3484933,00.html

[38] Mahnaimi, Uzi, “Tehran ‘bounty’ for attack on Israel,” TimesOnline, Oct. 30, 2005, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article584462.ece

[39] Mahnaimi, Uzi, “Tehran ‘bounty’ for attack on Israel,” TimesOnline, Oct. 30, 2005, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article584462.ece

[40] Ratzlav-Katz, Nissan, “Iran Allocates Over $100 million for Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad,” Israel National News, Jan. 22, 2006, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/97051

[41] “The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC),” CDI Terrorism Project, November 13, 2002, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/pflp-gc.cfm

[42] “The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC),” CDI Terrorism Project, November 13, 2002, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/pflp-gc.cfm

[43] “Iran and Syria as strategic support for Palestinian Terrorism,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sept. 30, 2002, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/9/Iran%20and%20Syria%20as%20Strategic%20Support%20for%20Palestinia

[44] Levitt, Matthew A., "Iranian State Sponsorship of Terror: Threatening U.S. Security, Global Stability, and Regional Peace," The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Feb. 16, 2005, www.washingtoninstitute.org/html/pdf/Iran-Testimony-2-16-05.pdf, pg. 5

[45] “U.S. blacklists major Iranian bank,” BBC News, Sept. 8, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5329326.stm

[46] "Seizing of the Palestinian weapons ship Karine A," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 2, 2002, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2002/Seizing%20of%20the%20Palestinian%20weapons%20ship%20Karine%20A%20-

[47] “Support and encouragement of Palestinian terror in the ‘territories’ by Iran and her proxies,” The Center for Intelligence, Information, and Terror. January 2004, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/sp/iran/financing.htm (Translated from Hebrew)

[48] “Palestinian Terrorists Murder 23, Wound 100: Tel Aviv Massacre,” Israel News Agency, Jan. 5, 2003, http://www.israelnewsagency.com/palestinianterror.html

[49] “Support and encouragement of Palestinian terror in the ‘territories’ by Iran and her proxies,” The Center for Intelligence, Information, and Terror. January 2004, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/html/final/sp/iran/financing.htm (Translated from Hebrew)

[50] “Iranian-trained terrorist arrested in Gaza,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 19, 2008, retrieved July 13, 2008, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+and+Islamic+Fundamentalism-/Iranian-trained%20terrorist%20arrested%20in%20Gaza%2019-May-2008

[51] Azoulay, Yuval, “IDF: Iran-trained militant arrested in Gaza raid last month,” Haaretz, May 19, 2008 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/984920.

[1]

Chapter 3: State Sponsors of Terrorism http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140889.htm Country Reports on Terrorism 2009

[2]

Chapter 3: State Sponsors of Terrorism http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140889.htm Country Reports on Terrorism 2009

[3] ibid