Iran Smuggling Weapons to Syria by Sea Again?

Iran Smuggling Weapons to Syria by Sea Again?

Iran Smuggling Weapons to Syria by Sea Again?

Iranian businesses that are sanctioned by the United States for links to the Revolutionary Guards Corps have been caught unloading shipments at Syria’s Latakia port, which is raising concerns that the dormant maritime trade route has been revived and could be used to smuggle weapons.

 

 

Iran Smuggling Weapons to Syria by Sea Again?
Iran Smuggling Weapons to Syria by Sea Again?

 

The Mediterranean Sea port of Latakia has long been used to transport illegal weapons and technologies from Iran and North Korea to Syria, but in light of increased supervision, Iran recently began transporting its military cargo, including weapons and fighters, via a civilian air route.

However, pictures shared by media show tractors made by the IRGC-affiliated Iranian Tractor Manufacturing Company (ITM) being unloaded at Latakia port. This maritime revival is likely due to the fact that Iran has suffered many failed attempts to smuggle weapons via its civilian air route, mainly thanks to hundreds of Israeli aerial bombardments on cargo terminals at Damascus Airport and other airbases in Syria.

According to intelligence sources, a recent workers’ strike at a Syrian government company factory on the outskirts of Latakia Port revealed stored machinery and materials hidden in maritime shipments. Analyst Lt. Col. Hal Kempfer said that this equipment was designated to build production facilities for Iranian precision missiles that would be used by Iran-backed Hezbollah.

At the beginning of last year, it was revealed that the ITM had signed an agreement with the Syrian Agricultural Federation (FSCA) to export equipment to Syria with the proposed aim of helping rebuild Syria’s agricultural production. But the ITM was added to the US sanctions list in October after it was discovered to be owned by the IRGC’s Basij force through two civilian front companies, Maher Aktsad and Nanjing Sahel Royal Company.

 

Read more: Iran Focus

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