FDD | August 20, 2024
Latest Developments
Terrorist groups in the West Bank have acquired claymore mines — directional anti-personnel mines originally developed by the U.S. armed forces during World War II with a range of up to 270 yards — smuggled from Jordan, Israeli broadcaster Kan reported on August 19. According to the report, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) believe that they have only intercepted a fraction of the weapons heading to the West Bank via Jordan, allowing a significant quantity of arms to fall into the hands of West Bank terrorists.
The report did not offer details as to who supplied the mines, or where they were manufactured. Iran has sought to provide arms, including advanced weapons, to West Bank terrorist groups to foment chaos on Israel’s doorstep and undermine the Palestinian Authority (PA). Last March, Israel intercepted advanced Iranian weapons enroute to the West Bank. The weapons confiscated include explosives, grenade launchers, anti-tank mines, and firearms.
Expert Analysis
“On October 7, Israel was surprised by the quantity and sophistication of the weapons in Hamas’s arsenal. Jerusalem cannot afford to make that mistake again. The proliferation of sophisticated weapons in the West Bank should be a wakeup call to Jerusalem that the IDF’s anti-smuggling efforts — both in Gaza and the West Bank — need to be redoubled. This challenge highlights the critical importance of Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor in Gaza and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank — both well-travelled terrorist smuggling routes that present a strategic threat to the Jewish state.” — Enia Krivine, FDD Israel Program & Senior Director
“With Iran’s support, terrorist groups in the West Bank are undergoing a transformation, becoming increasingly organized and well-equipped. Despite Israel’s ongoing efforts to control the violence through almost daily raids on these groups, it is evident that a more effective strategy is necessary to counter the growing influence of Iranian-backed terrorist groups. If immediate and substantial changes are not implemented, these groups are likely to gain access to more advanced weaponry, significantly exacerbating the tense situation in the West Bank.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal
Iran, Hamas Attempting to Destabilize Jordan and the West Bank
Israel’s foreign minister recently issued a warning that Iran, and its Palestinian terrorist proxy Hamas, are working to destabilize both Jordan and the PA-controlled West Bank by smuggling weapons and funds through the Hashemite Kingdom. In an August 12 post on X, Israel Katz noted that “a serious and dangerous situation is unfolding,” revealing that units from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “are collaborating with Hamas operatives in Lebanon to smuggle weapons and funds into Jordan with the aim of destabilizing the regime.”
Separately, Israel’s Army Radio reported that the IDF may soon set up a new division for securing the porous Jordanian border.
Related Analysis
“Iran Attempts to Destabilize Jordan,” FDD Flash Brief
“Iraqi Militia Threatens to Arm Jordanians for Attacks Against Israel,” FDD Flash Brief
“The West Bank: A 3-year crisis led by Palestinian terrorist groups,” by Joe Truzman
This is why a cease-fire is very dangerous for Israel!