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Iran rearming Hezbollah via Turkey, MI says By Barak Ravid Iran is arming Hezbollah with missiles sent via Turkey, according to intelligence received in Israel. Turkish authorities are unaware of the arms shipments, which are in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 that brought an end to the Second Lebanon War. A senior Israeli government source said that Brigadier General Yossi Beiditz, head of the Israel Defense Forces research department, last week told European Union ambassadors in a briefing that Iran continues to transfer arms and equipment to Hezbollah, in spite of Tehran's denials. Advertisement Some of the weapons include long-range missiles that are being transfered through flights using Turkey's airspace, as well as overland though Turkey, under the guise of civilian cargo. From Turkey, the missiles are transfered to Syria and then Lebanon. Turkey has not permitted the use of its territory for such transfers. The same source said that according to Beiditz, some of the missiles Iran transfered to Hezbollah have a maximum range of 300 kilometers, "capable of reaching the Dimona area from Beirut." According to intelligence so far available to Israel, the maximum range of missiles in Hezbollah's arsenal had been 250 kilometers. Beiditz said that the missiles currently in Hezbollah's possession are more accurate and capable of carrying larger warheads. There was no comment from the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv concerning this information. However, a Turkish source noted that the embassy has not received any information or inquiries from official Israeli sources regarding the matter of weapons transfers to Hezbollah crossing through Turkish territory. According to the source, Turkey has "adhered to all international decisions, with an emphasis on the arms embargo to Lebanon." He added, however, that Turkey and Israel share intelligence information on other levels, outside the embassy. In May 2007, Turkey confiscated a load of weapons that included 300 rockets, transferred from Iran by train through Turkey. The cargo was registered as "cleaning materials." During the Second Lebanon War, the Turkish media reported that Turkish authorities had forced two Iranian aircraft, on their way to Syria through Turkish airspace, to land because of suspicions that they were carrying unauthorized arms shipments. No weapons were found on board. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent the periodic report on the implementation of Resolution 1701 to the Security Council yesterday. According to the report, Israel maintains that Hezbollah has replenished its missile arsenal and currently holds tens of thousands of long-range rockets along with 20,000 shorter-range ones. During the Second Lebanon War, the radical Shi'ite organization fired about 4,000 rockets into Israel. The report called on Syria and Iran to behave responsibly and in line with the embargo on exporting arms to Lebanon. The UN report is also critical of Israel's intelligence-gathering overflights in Lebanon, and the UN chief expressed concern at the anger that these flights spark. "The repeated violations, on the part of Israel, undermine the credibility of UNIFIL and of the Lebanese army in the eyes of the local population and is preventing them from carrying out their role," the report states. According to the Israeli government source, during his briefing to EU ambassadors, Beiditz said that the official position of Israel is that the intelligence-gathering flights are of particular importance, and he showed videos filmed by various aircraft documenting the smuggling of missiles from Syria into Lebanon. "Without the overflights it will be difficult for Israel to pinpoint the launchers, the Hezbollah arms depots and the smuggling," the source said. During the briefing, Beiditz was asked about Israel's assessment of Hezbollah's response to last month's assassination of terrorist mastermind Imad Mughniyah in Damascus. Beiditz said that it is difficult to tell, but noted that while the group's leaders are calling for revenge and blame Israel, there are many variables that are forcing Hezbollah to exhibit restraint. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Halimi, relived A Jewish teen is tortured where Ilan Halimi died in similar circumstances. Bus-bomb capital Four buses designed to thwart suicide bombings are tested in J'lem.

Today Online MI: Iran arming Hezbollah with missiles via Turkey Responses: 231 Leviev: Zionism is bankrupt due to 'new American religion' Responses: 97 Israel-PA talks 'may resume as early as Thursday ' Responses: 86 Moshe Arens: It was too much to hope for that the IDF would invade Gaza Responses: 62 Rosner: Americans have a favorable view of Israel, especially Republicans Responses: 59 More Headlines 01:26 Peace talks with PA likely to resume Thursday 01:34 Palestinian killed, Israeli hurt in drive-by shooting in W. Bank 02:21 Settlers agree to evacuate several illegal West Bank outposts 22:01 Hezbollah: We're ready for war with Israel, but we won't start it 01:57 Jewish teen tortured in French town where Ilan Halimi was killed 21:55 Suicide bomber 'resistant' buses being tested in Jerusalem 23:12 Arab League vows to drop out of NPT if Israel admits it has nuclear weapons 20:42 Clinton hints she is willing to share ticket with Obama 23:36 Haaretz.com launches innovative Jewish genealogy service 20:36 Diplomat James Cunningham to be named U.S. envoy to Israel 18:28 Israeli Arab jailed for 16 years over 'honor killing' of his sister 18:45 Arab League condemns IDF Gaza operation as 'crime against humanity' Previous Editions Select Day 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb

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