Israel sees surge in Iran weapons smuggling to West Bank via Jordan
Introduction
There is a significant increase in Iranian efforts to smuggle weapons into the West Bank through Jordan, raising concerns for Israeli security officials.
This surge in weapons trafficking is part of Iran’s broader strategy to foment unrest and arm Palestinian militias against Israel.
Smuggling Routes and Methods
Iranian-backed smuggling networks are utilizing two primary routes to transport weapons to the West Bank:
Syria-Jordan-Israel route: Weapons are moved from Syria into Jordan, then smuggled across the Israeli border into the West Bank.
Lebanon-Syria-Jordan-Israel route: Arms are transported from Lebanon through Syria and Jordan before entering Israel.
These routes involve complex networks of smugglers, including:
Bedouin smugglers in Jordan
Syrian smuggling families like the Al-Saeed and Al-Ramthan
Lebanese Hezbollah operatives
Innovative smuggling methods have been developed to circumvent border security measures, including:
Using drones to transport weapons and drugs
Utilizing old oil pipelines connecting Jordan to Iraq
Employing refugees to work at border crossings
Recent Developments
Several recent events highlight the ongoing struggle against these smuggling operations:
Jordanian Armed Forces engaged and killed several drug smugglers attempting to enter from Syria on January 1, 2025.
Israeli authorities reported intercepting multiple smuggling attempts from Israeli territory into Gaza via drones in early January 2025.
In late 2024, Israel seized a large cache of weapons originating from Iran, including rockets, explosives, and sniper rifles, intended for Palestinian fighters in the West Bank.
Iranian Involvement
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies, particularly Hezbollah, play a central role in these smuggling operations:
The IRGC utilizes its freedom of movement in Iraq to facilitate weapons transfers.
Hezbollah is involved in storing and managing weapons transfers through Syria.
Iranian-backed militias in Syria have been linked to smuggling attempts into Jordan.
Jordanian and Israeli Countermeasures
Both Jordan and Israel are taking steps to combat these smuggling operations:
Jordan has conducted numerous raids and airstrikes since 2023 to disrupt Iranian-backed smuggling attempts.
Israel has increased security measures and intelligence operations to intercept weapons before they reach the West Bank.
The two countries are cooperating to secure their shared border and combat arms and drug smuggling.
Conclusion
The surge in weapons smuggling represents a significant challenge for regional security, as Iran continues its efforts to arm Palestinian militias and destabilize the West Bank. This ongoing situation requires continued vigilance and cooperation between Israel, Jordan, and other regional partners to counter Iranian influence and maintain stability.
