(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - IDF forces advanced into Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday in an operation meant to expose and seal tunnels used to smuggle arms from Egypt. At least three Palestinian gunmen were reported killed. Security sources said Palestinians were attempting to acquire missiles that could knock out tanks [Sagger missiles] and aircraft [Stinger missiles], weapons they have not used thus far. The Stingers could shoot down the attack helicopters Israel often uses in operations in Gaza, the sources said. Stinger missiles could also threaten Israeli warplanes or civilian aircraft flying close to Gaza. Israeli military sources said Israel had intelligence warnings that Palestinians were planning to use tunnels under the border to smuggle in weapons that could have a strategic impact on the conflict, but the Egyptians were not taking steps to stop them. The operation was larger in scope than previous ones because of the threat of the new range of weapons set to be smuggled, Israeli military sources said.
2003-10-10 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive