(Baltimore Sun) Peter Hermann - Israeli officials say they are especially concerned by evidence that rogue members of the secular Aqsa Martyrs Brigades are receiving new financial support from Iran. The Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon, backed by Iran, has long helped Palestinian militants by supplying arms and training. Israeli officials say the evidence of Hezbollah's influence extends to Palestinians' improved fighting tactics, including well-planned ambushes and sniper attacks. Israeli security officials say they have now have evidence that Iran gave financial support to members of the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the northern West Bank, and to an umbrella group in Gaza called the Popular Resistance Movement. They also say they have evidence linking 15 attacks in the past three years to Iran, actions that killed 50 Israelis. The official accused a charitable organization in Gaza called the Ansar Institute of funneling money from Iran to militant groups.
2003-08-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive