Egypt Intercepts Missile Shipment Bound for Gaza

By JTA January 4, 2013

Egyptian security forces in the Sinai Peninsula reportedly intercepted a shipment of American-made missiles destined for the Gaza Strip.

After receiving intelligence on the weapons shipment, the Egyptian Interior Ministry raided a location south of El-Arish, Ma’an, the Palestinian news agency, reported on Friday.

According to the report, security forces discovered six U.S.-manufactured missiles being prepared in the city, just south of Gaza, for smuggling into the Palestinian coastal strip.

The missiles were 75cm long, with a 40cm diameter and a range of two kilometers, Ma’an reported. Some were for use against tanks and the others were anti-aircraft.

Late last month, Egyptian armed forces foiled an attempt to smuggle 17 French-made TDI model rockets into the Gaza Strip, the Egypt Independent quoted an anonymous military source as saying.

According to the report, Egyptian military forces, in cooperation with local Bedouins, stopped the smuggling attempt in northern Sinai. The rockets intercepted were caliber 68 mm, which have a range of 1.86 miles.

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