[Ha'aretz] Avi Issacharoff - "Boosted by their newfound ability to travel abroad, Hamas militants have been going back and forth to hostile countries for training," Israel Defense Forces Head of Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant said Wednesday. "They are sending activists to Syria, Lebanon, Iran. And the opposite. People from Iran come inspect the situation in the area, give them the proper training and coaching, examine them and see if they hit the target they gave them." Galant said the training and technology from Iran has enabled Hamas to grow from a ragtag militia into a well-organized group resembling an army - complete with battalions, companies, platoons and special forces for surveillance, snipers, and explosive experts. Galant also called the Gaza cease-fire a tactical move for Hamas to strengthen itself.
2007-03-08 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive