Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., July 28, 2008 Tamuz 25, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:21 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Both J'lem, Tehran silent on arms convoy blast By Barak Ravid A blast that took place a week ago near Tehran wrecked a convoy of Revolutionary Guard Corps vehicles that was carrying arms to Hezbollah, according to a report Friday in the British daily The Telegraph. According to the report, the blast killed several people. The Revolutionary Guards imposed a news blackout was imposed and opened an investigation into he possibility that the blast was the result of sabotage. Advertisement The explosion took place in the Tehran suburb of Khavarshahar near a Revolutionary Guards munitions warehouse. The Telegraph said Western officials had received reports that the munitions were bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Although the blast was clearly heard throughout Tehran, the Revolutionary Guard imposed a complete ban on reports of the incident, and the Iranian media have so far not released any information about it. The Iranian government has also not issued an official statement regarding the blast. Jerusalem has also not officially responded to the incident. The Prime Minister's Bureau said it was unfamiliar with the incident and therefore did not want to comment. Sources in Israel say there has been a significant rise in the movement of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah in recent months, especially via Syria, and that the smuggling is a source of great concern to security and government leaders. According to a senior Israeli government official, "The weapons smuggling has reached such a level that a new policy should be formulated." About two weeks ago the security cabinet convened especially to discuss Hezbollah's continued arming. Iran has been helping Hezbollah rebuild its strength since the Second Lebanon War, two years ago. According to the information Israel has, the group has received tens of thousands of rockets with a range of 300 kilometers, as well as a variety of other weapons. Israel says there are a number of ways for Iran to deliver weapons to Hezbollah. One is overland - by means of Iranian trains and trucks crossing Turkey and reaching Syria, where they unload the weapons and transfer them directly to Hezbollah via the border between Syria and Lebanon, which is wide-open. In May 2007, a shipment of Iranian weapons bound for Hezbollah was discovered after the Iranian train that was carrying them derailed as it passed through Turkey. Israeli sources say another means of delivering weapons is by air. Iranian planes loaded with munitions fly over Turkish air space and land at Damascus International Airport, where the weapons are unloaded. From there they are transferred in trucks to the Lebanese border. According to the Telegraph report, there have been a number of mysterious explosions recently in Iran. One occurred at a mosque in Shiraz where a military exhibition was taking place, and another took place at a missile site, killing a number of technicians. Bookmark to del.icio.us   West Bank drought Palestinian Water Authority calls on Israel to rethink its water policies. Death of an artist Egyptian filmmaker's controversial work earned him international recognition.

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