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Militants, Weapons Transit Gaza Tunnels Despite Egyptian Crackdown

(Reuters) A third of the houses on the main street of the Bedouin town of al-Sarsouriya in Egypt buzz with the activity of tunnel smugglers scrambling to survive a security crackdown by the Egyptian army. The guide who accompanied Reuters estimated the total number of functional tunnels in about 10 border villages at nearly 500 - down from about 1,500 before the Egyptian clampdown began. Most of the bigger tunnels - the kind that can accommodate cars - have been destroyed, but smaller ones 1-2 meters in diameter survive. As many as 200 new tunnels had been built in the past two years, with new ones coming onboard each week. "Each day, about 3 or 4 people cross with weapons, and each one carries about 6 or 7 guns," the guide said. A senior Egyptian security officer confirmed that the smaller tunnels remain operational. At one tunnel people can pass for $50 each but the rate increases if they are armed. Most of the passengers are men, the owner said. "As long as they give me $50, I let them through."
2014-08-22 00:00:00
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