Iran has expanded its delivery of weapons to the houthi rebels in yemen, u. Iran may know of weapons for taliban, gates contends the. Gretchen peters has covered pakistan and afghanistan for more than a decade, first. Afghan tribes were also delivered weapons which the us captured from iraq in the gulf. The recovery of iraniansourced weapons has been reported in afghanistan in recent months. Previous cases of iranian arms smuggling prompted no such action. In fact, irans weapons smuggling activities in afghanistan likely will not exceed the scope of similar activities conducted on irans western border with iraq. Tehran supplying taliban with iranianmade weapons, says. The cables accuse irans revolutionary guard of using the aid organisation to move spies and weapons into war zones.
U key findings u on balance, iranian foreign policy shares many of the same goals as u. Mr gates said he had seen recent intelligence which made it pretty clear theres a fairly substantial flow of weapons into afghanistan. Iranian weapons smuggling activities in afghanistan august 3, 2012. Afghanistans border with iran is around 1,000 kilometers long. The report describes three illegal transfers, two to syria and one to the taliban in afghanistan.
Their destinations were hezbollah august 2010 and gambia, west africa july 2010. The good news is that there are ways to effectively disrupt irans international weapons smuggling. Many in farah province say iran is supporting the taliban directly and indirectly. A military history of iran and its armed forces, provides a valuable starting point for developing an understanding of that particular adversary. Per the report on terrorist routes in centra asia, what is the most important factor affecting regional drug trafficking between central asia and afghanistan. Jun 01, 2007 in april, coalition forces discovered iranian made weapons in kandahar, afghanistan, though officials could not establish a clear link between iran and the taliban regarding the weapons, reported. Taliban armed with weapons from iran financial times. Given the quantities that were seeing, it is difficult to believe that its associated with smuggling or the drug business or that its taking place without the knowledge of the iranian government, he said. Field survey report trafficking in persons in afghanistan iom. Jun 05, 2007 kabul, afghanistan sophisticated new weapons, including chinese antiaircraft missiles as well as items made in iran, are reaching taliban forces in afghanistan, according to government. Sep 18, 2017 iran is smuggling increasingly potent weapons into yemen, u. But the presence of chinese weapons so close to the iranian border is the strongest evidence to date suggesting tehran has had at least an indirect role in arms shipments to afghanistan. Addressing iranian weapons smuggling and the humanitarian.
Between 2010 and 2011, afghan and iranian security forces were involved in border skirmish in nimroz province of afghanistan. The quds force has been described as the iranian unit deployed to challenge the united states presence in iraq following the u. Stop iran from smuggling weapons to terrorists act 2017. Today, the irgcqf is active in building, funding, training, and partnering with a growing number of actors in the regiona testament to irans commitment to irregular warfare. Afghanistans nimroz province seized books imported from iran which. Mar 23, 2010 afghan iranian mountain trails reveal hidden weapons smuggling route. Jul 28, 2018 the afghan taliban have been accused of using iranian weapons in the war against the authorities in afghanistan, preventing the establishment of security and peace in the country, which has been. What theyre bringing in via oman are antiship missiles, explosives money and personnel, a u. This paper examines the threat posed by irans alqods force.
Limbs of no body worlds indifference to the afghan tragedy. Taliban uses weapons made in china, iran the washington times. Iranianmade weapons have been found in western afghanistan, and some analysts say tehran in likely playing a role in sending weapons to taliban insurgents. Iranian weapons seized in afghanistan afghan officials have seized iranian weapons including roadside bomb making components smuggled over the border to support the taliban. In the drugs and arms trade, is iran getting away with. Us officers present iranianmade missiles, efps and mortar shells blamed for the death of 170 coalition soldiers. The book is strong on narrative, well written, and engaging. Ramstein air base, germany, june the flow of illicit weapons from iran to taliban fighters in afghanistan has reached such large quantities. In addition to footing the bill for russian weapons, iran has also been supplying the syrian regime with iranian weapons, ranging from rockets and missiles, rocketpropelled grenades and mortars, to drones and other military surveillance technology.
They demanded that the primers contain antisoviet passages. Jun, 2007 mr gates said he had seen recent intelligence which made it pretty clear theres a fairly substantial flow of weapons into afghanistan. Strategically, a shia led government under iranian influence in bahrain may imply opportunities for iran to rid the island nation of u. U iran historically fosters some form of relationship with all regional actors, including its own enemies, in its pursuit of national interest. Iran does not possess nuclear weapons but it conducted activities in the past.
Nov 28, 2010 an iranian red crescent shipment being loaded for gaza. Mar 18, 2010 iranian weapons seized in afghanistan afghan officials have seized iranian weapons including roadside bomb making components smuggled over the border to support the taliban. Wikimedia commons has media related to weapons of afghanistan. The commander of afghanistans 205 army corps, general sher mohammad zazai, stated that security forces seized iranianmade weapons during operations in helmand provinces marja district in may 2009. Iranian weapons are being shipped into afghanistan, robert gates, the us defence secretary, claimed on monday, but he stopped short of pointing the finger directly at tehran. Not only is the shadow war between iran and the united states going to go on, much of it will play out in iraq. The difference was that most of the ships iran used for the arms smuggling were small enough under 300 tons that they were not legally required to carry an electronic beacon. The weapons are smuggled overland into yemen via the neighboring country of oman.
It is high time to back up the tough talk with action. Irans secret weapon, by dr robert faurisson darkmoon. Jul 25, 2010 if the war logs are to be believed, iranian involvement in afghanistan has steadily widened from 2004 to today, amid record levels of military and civilian casualties and spreading violence. Kabul, afghanistan sophisticated new weapons, including chinese antiaircraft missiles as well as items made in iran, are reaching taliban forces in afghanistan, according to government. Weapons crossing the border from iran to afghanistan may be winding up in the hands of the taliban, the hardline islamic militia that is battling u. Irans military aid to the taliban has included light arms, rifled propelled grenades rpgs. Us claims iranian weapons are used in iraq asianews. The question is whether the francop episode will provide the political impetus for the international community to take action.
Jun 04, 2007 iranian weapons are being shipped into afghanistan, robert gates, the us defence secretary, claimed on monday, but he stopped short of pointing the finger directly at tehran. This wouldnt be anything like our wars in afghanistan and iraq, but very few people seem to understand this. Before becoming director of the cia in 2011, petraeus was a fourstar general. And within the last 48 hours, such a conflict has gotten much, much closer. Iranian spies used red crescent to enter war zones world. Iran is not a nuclearweapons state and, though it has pursued a program to develop. Disrupting irans weapons smuggling middle east strategy.
The actions, affiliations, and nature of the alqods force constitute a classic example of statesponsored terrorism. Iranian soldier captured in afghanistan a member of the iranian revolutionary guard has been captured supplying weapons to the taliban in afghanistan for attacks on. Irans revolutionary guard corps supporting insurgents. A number of afghans were executed by hanging in public for crimes punishable with death in iran murder, rape, smuggling large amount of drugs, and armed robbery which sparked angry demonstrations in afghanistan. Iranian ships seized smuggling north korean machine guns to. Aug 15, 2019 e arlier, uk media reported that the british territorys administrators would not be renewing the order to detain the panamanianflagged tanker, which was boarded by royal marines and placed under detention in early july amid claims that it was smuggling iranian crude oil to a refinery in syria, in contravention of eu sanctions. Afghanistan s border with iran is around 1,000 kilometers long. Admiral says houthis protested a saudiled coalition airstrike that hit a hospital in sana, yemen, in august 2016. Irans covert operations in afghanistan, the guardian, 25 july 2010. Iran is smuggling increasingly potent weapons into yemen, u.
The smuggling of iranian weapons to afghan insurgent groups is simply another tool to leverage against foreign threats while maintaining overall cooperation in the stabilization of afghanistan. Enemies in iraq and afghanistan to destabilize the region. Afghanistan, located north and west of pakistan, east of iran, west of china, and south of. Nov 26, 2018 the difference was that most of the ships iran used for the arms smuggling were small enough under 300 tons that they were not legally required to carry an electronic beacon. But some larger iranian weapons smuggling ships illegally turned.
U iranian weapons smuggling activities in afghanistan public. Operation cyclone was the code name for the united states central intelligence agency cia program to arm and finance the mujahideen jihadists in afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. Aug 21, 2009 the recovery of iraniansourced weapons has been reported in afghanistan in recent months. Efps smuggled to afghan insurgents for use against u. U iranian weapons smuggling activities in afghanistan. Jan 17, 2014 in the current strategic environment, one of our adversaries, for good or ill, is iran. Nationbuilding in afghanistan washington, potomac books, 2009, james. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
Afghaniranian mountain trails reveal hidden weapons. If the war logs are to be believed, iranian involvement in afghanistan has steadily widened from 2004 to today, amid record levels of military and civilian casualties and spreading violence. The taliban in afghanistan and palestinian islamic jihad in palestinian territory, for example, were sunni organizations. In this hour, 14 more people will have died in afghanistan of war and hunger and 60 others will have become refugees in. The commander of afghanistans 205 army corps, general sher mohammad zazai, stated that security forces seized iranianmade weapons during operations in helmand provinces marja district in. In april, coalition forces discovered iranianmade weapons in kandahar, afghanistan, though officials could not establish a clear link between. In recent months two more iranian attempts to ship weapons were exposed.
Possibly one of the biggest scandals of the obama administration was the blocking of active investigations into hezbollah and irans complicity in the deadly global trade in drugs and armaments. Dec 24, 2010 iranian soldier captured in afghanistan a member of the iranian revolutionary guard has been captured supplying weapons to the taliban in afghanistan for attacks on british and american troops. U on balance, iranian foreign policy shares many of the same goals as u. Special operations forces did not remain in the area. Iranian ships seized smuggling north korean machine guns. It was the best known smuggling trail, but just one of many hundreds of trails that snake through the mountains here. Pages in category weapons of afghanistan the following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total. Gibraltar releases iranian tanker despite us effort to. Since the iranian smuggling network depends on a lot of noniranians who have less loyalty to, or fear of iran these bounties are more likely to work than those for islamic terrorist leaders who are well connected and protected. Nigerianiranian relations have reached a point of crisis.
If anyone understands the consequences of iranian involvement in middle east affairs, david petraeus does. Iran and the future of afghanistan council on foreign relations. If you read my article in full, it will take about an hour of your time. Afghan schools have received thousands of iranian books, many of which espouse. Chapter ii push factors of trafficking in afghanistan. The source helping us had to resort to locking us in. Forces represents the current threshold above which iran will likely. Iranian spies used red crescent to enter war zones.
An iranian red crescent shipment being loaded for gaza. Iran is smuggling increasingly potent weapons into yemen. Unit 190, a branch of the islamic revolutionary guard corps, is responsible for smuggling arms to iranian proxies in syria, lebanon, and elsewhere. There is no doubt that its one of the most difficult in the world to police. In the current strategic environment, one of our adversaries, for good or ill, is iran. Iran smuggling more weapons to yemeni rebels via oman. Dec 12, 2019 shahnameh and hafezs divan as great examples of persian literature, the controversial reading lolita in tehran and the highly descriptive the blood of flowers as books about the iranian culture and society are only some of the titles i suggest you read before travelling to iran, when you will shape your own idea about this fascinating.
This backs iran into a corner, but allows room for the possibility that substate actors. Iranian entities continue to lend material support to insurgent activity in afghanistan. Jim stavridis, who led a carrier strike group in the persian gulf in the early phases of the iraq and afghanistan wars, said the persian gulf, strait of hormuz and northern arabian sea have been hotbeds of smuggling for many years. Iran has been funnelling weapons to americas enemies in iraq and afghanistan to weaken western influence in the region, reports the wall street journal. But some larger iranian weapons smuggling ships illegally turned off their beacon and, as the saying goes, ran dark. E arlier, uk media reported that the british territorys administrators would not be renewing the order to detain the panamanianflagged tanker, which was boarded by royal marines and placed under detention in early july amid claims that it was smuggling iranian crude oil to a refinery in syria, in contravention of eu sanctions. Bbc news south asia us concern at iran afghan arms. During that time of soviet occupation, regional military leaders in afghanistan helped the u. An exception to this pattern may come about if the iranian leadership perceives an imminent threat to the regime due to hostile u. After taliban assault in western afghanistan, allegations of an.
The afghan taliban have been accused of using iranian weapons in the war against the authorities in afghanistan, preventing the establishment of security and peace in. Although the united states and iran managed to avoid an escalation to fullblown war which would be very costly for both sides a wide set of u. Jun 27, 2007 iranian made weapons have been found in western afghanistan, and some analysts say tehran in likely playing a role in sending weapons to taliban insurgents. Disrupting irans weapons smuggling middle east strategy at. Afghaniranian mountain trails reveal hidden weapons smuggling route. In this hour, 14 more people will have died in afghanistan of war and hunger and 60 others will have become refugees in other countries.
And channel 4 news has learnt that it is also a major pipeline for iranian support. A senior iranian diplomat confirmed that his government has stepped. Shahnameh and hafezs divan as great examples of persian literature, the controversial reading lolita in tehran and the highly descriptive the blood of flowers as books about the iranian culture and society are only some of the titles i suggest you read before travelling to iran, when you will shape your own idea about this fascinating. To authorize assistance and training to increase maritime security and domain awareness of foreign countries bordering the persian gulf, the arabian sea, or the mediterranean sea in order to deter and counter illicit smuggling and related maritime activity by iran, including illicit iranian weapons shipments. Secretary of defense robert gates said washington had no evidence proving a direct role by the iranian government in smuggling weapons to the taliban. Jun 14, 2007 ramstein air base, germany, june the flow of illicit weapons from iran to taliban fighters in afghanistan has reached such large quantities that it suggests that the shipments are taking place. Iran continues to persevere in its efforts to increase ties with resourcerich african nations, and a recent. And in order to quickly win a war against iran, the u. May 30, 2007 weapons crossing the border from iran to afghanistan may be winding up in the hands of the taliban, the hardline islamic militia that is battling u. Considering that yemen imports 90 percent of its food, many. Irans paramilitary fighting force has been running a multimilliondollar illicit weapons smuggling program in iraq, according to new disclosures by the trump administration, which issued a bevy of sanctions on wednesday aimed at disrupting the arms network.
790 971 686 484 392 1493 1361 100 479 798 1404 84 1106 1149 234 1173 883 364 974 229 301 1522 1442 903 795 1269 1041 274 956 1281 833 992 279 1326 792 570 721 59 659