Israel Foils Major Iranian Arms Shipment

In a decisive blow to Tehran’s campaign to arm militants, Israeli security services uncovered and seized a large weapons cache smuggled into Judea and Samaria. The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said the shipment linked to Iran’s clandestine Unit 4000 and IRGC networks contained explosive devices, anti-tank rockets, assault rifles, handguns, and armed drones.

The operation began months earlier with the arrest of a local weapons dealer near Ramallah. Shin Bet interrogations quickly exposed a ring that led investigators to the concealed shipment. Authorities did not reveal the exact discovery site, but the list of seized materiel was made public: 29 Claymore-type explosives, 15 anti-tank rockets with an RPG launcher, three additional RPGs, 20 hand grenades, 53 handguns, seven assault rifles, nine machine guns, roughly 750 rounds of ammunition and four drones two capable of carrying explosives.

Shin Bet officials framed the seizure as the latest chapter in a persistent campaign of Iran weapons smuggling aimed at destabilizing the West Bank and fueling attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. “This shipment, like its predecessors, is part of an ongoing Iranian effort to undermine security in the region by arming terror cells on the ground,” the agency said. The agency also attributed the plot to IRGC units operating out of Syria and linked to Iran’s Special Operations apparatus.

This interception follows similar thwarted shipments in March and November 2024, demonstrating a clear pattern. Israeli investigators say Iran’s Unit 4000 and the Quds Force’s operational arms sometimes referenced by regional sources as Unit 18840 have continued to funnel weapons through local intermediaries and regional nodes. Shin Bet named two operatives previously tied to smuggling efforts, Salah al-Husseini and Muhammad Shuayb, who were killed in Syrian- and Lebanon-area strikes earlier this year.

The strategic danger of Iran weapons smuggling is plain. Anti-tank rockets and explosive drones materially change the threat landscape for towns, military convoys, and checkpoints across Judea and Samaria. Unlike small arms, these systems enable terror cells to strike from greater stand-off distances and to target infrastructure or fortified positions, increasing both lethality and the risk of wider escalation.

Beyond the immediate tactical threat, the interception exposed broader Iranian intent: to arm proxy networks that can carry out asymmetric campaigns, erode Israeli control, and exert pressure on the security environment. Israeli officials warn that unchecked arms flows would embolden militants and widen the theater of violence beyond Gaza to the West Bank.

Israeli security forces are responding on multiple fronts. The Shin Bet-led probe combined human intelligence from the arrested dealer with forensic and technical work that traced supply chains and logistics. The IDF and police have increased patrols and targeted operations in vulnerable areas, while intelligence cooperation with regional partners helped map the money and transit routes used by smugglers.

For the public, the message was twofold: vigilance and reassurance. Security chiefs stressed that these seizures prevent imminent attacks and underscore the effectiveness of Israel’s intelligence apparatus. At the same time, officials cautioned that the Iran weapons smuggling campaign remains active and that more interdictions will be necessary to keep communities safe.

Analysts say the operation also sends a diplomatic signal. By exposing Tehran’s role and connecting weapons flows to Iran’s specialized units, Israel is tightening the international spotlight on the IRGC’s external activities. That, in turn, can help rally regional partners and international institutions to pressure transit states and choke off routes used by smugglers.

For Israelis living near the flashpoints, the seizure is a tangible relief weapons that could have killed civilians or soldiers have been taken off the streets. For the security establishment, it is confirmation that persistent intelligence work and strong operational follow-through can blunt attempts at escalation.

Israel remains determined to defend its people and its borders from outside interference. The Shin Bet’s operation is a reminder that the fight against terrorism includes disrupting supply chains, dismantling networks, and confronting the regimes that arm them.

Support Israel’s efforts to protect its citizens and safeguard regional stability. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more reporting on security and defense.