Israel Matzav

Syria finally stops an 'arms shipment'

Al-AP reported this evening that Syria stopped an 'arms shipment' at its border with Lebanon:

Syrian customs officers have thwarted an attempt to smuggle arms to Lebanon through an Iraqi truck, Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported Sunday.

The truck, carrying 95 9mm guns, a 9mm machine gun, a Russian rifle, 190 bullets and 290 clips, was seized as it was traveling through the Arida border crossing heading to the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli last week, SANA quoted a Syrian customs official as saying.

The news agency said the arms, concealed under the truck, were to be delivered to a restaurant owner in Tripoli.

The smugglers, whose identities were not disclosed, have been arrested and handed over to Syrian authorities for investigation, SANA said. Lebanese officials were not immediately available for comment.

Well, it may not be one million rounds of ammunition, but it's something, right? No, says blogger From Beirut to the Beltway:

A day after the Iraqi government accused the Assad regime of exporting terror and mass murder to Baghdad's neighborhoods, Syria unveiled the alleged foiling of a plot to smuggle "96 pistols and 190 bullets" to Lebanon. The culprit? An Iraqi truck. Destination? A restaurant owner in predominantly pro-March 14 Tripoli.

Syrian customs officers have seized an Iraqi truck transporting weapons bound for Lebanon, the official SANA news agency said on Sunday. "Syrian customs recently foiled an attempt to smuggle weapons into Lebanon. The guns were in an Iraq-registered truck and heading for Lebanon via the Al-Arida border crossing," it said.

The vehicle was registered in the restive Iraqi province of Al-Anbar, a Sunni bastion west of Baghdad, SANA said, adding the consignment was apparently destined for a restaurant owner in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

Customs officers found a cache of 96 pistols, an automatic weapon, a Russian-made gun and 190 bullets, the agency said, without giving a date for the incident. (Naharnet/AFP)

This "revelation" comes after Nasrallah's reported admission that he (surprise!) receives weapons from Iran via Syria.

Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah has said it is no secret that Iran is aiding Hezbollah by sending money and weapons via Syria. In remarks published in an interview in the weekend issue of the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai Al-Aam, Nasrallah also is willing to receive aid not only from Iran but also from Muslim countries that have diplomatic ties with Israel, such as Egypt, and states that are considered moderate, such as Saudi Arabia. (Haaretz)

I guess rockets are easier to hide than pistols, especially when the cause involves "sacrificing children".

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:57 AM