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Tel Aviv Accuses Tehran of 'Smuggling' Weapons, Experts to Proxies Using Civilian Airline

An Airbus A310 of Iranian private airline Mahan Air taxis at Sanaa International airport following its first flight to Yemen from Iran, in Sanaa March 1, 2015. File/REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
An Airbus A310 of Iranian private airline Mahan Air taxis at Sanaa International airport following its first flight to Yemen from Iran, in Sanaa March 1, 2015. File/REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
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Tel Aviv Accuses Tehran of 'Smuggling' Weapons, Experts to Proxies Using Civilian Airline

An Airbus A310 of Iranian private airline Mahan Air taxis at Sanaa International airport following its first flight to Yemen from Iran, in Sanaa March 1, 2015. File/REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
An Airbus A310 of Iranian private airline Mahan Air taxis at Sanaa International airport following its first flight to Yemen from Iran, in Sanaa March 1, 2015. File/REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi

An Israeli report published Thursday claimed that it uncovered a new means used by Iran to smuggle weapons into Syria and Lebanon, through the private airline Mahan Air.

The report said that this discovery came within the framework of Israel’s campaign to thwart the new Iranian smuggling route through Beirut, and its threats to bomb the airport.

The report, key parts of which were published by Haaretz, focuses on a study conducted by the Alma Center, which specializes in security research on the northern front in Israel and is headed by Sarit Zehavi, a retired Israeli military intelligence officer.

It claimed that it “monitored the activity” of the private Iranian airline, Mahan Air, which operates flights from Iran to several destinations, including Syria, Lebanon, Türkiye, Eastern European countries and others, and that it transported weapons and sensitive equipment to Hezbollah.

According to the report, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) was purchasing airline tickets from Mahan Air for civilian passengers and cargo, which included weapons and equipment for building weapons and missiles.

It added that the Alma Center was able to monitor the names of 63 pilots in Mahan Air, who could be involved in efforts to smuggle weapons to Syria and Lebanon last year.

“The company serves the IRGC as a civilian platform for smuggling weapons via their Special Unit 190. This unit is in charge of transferring Iranian weapons throughout the Middle East,” the report claimed.

The Alma center published details about people “involved” in this operation, and pointed to the Mahan Air general manager, who was a former officer in the IRGC and a close friend of IRGC Commander Qassem Soleimani, before his assassination.

The report also mentioned the name of Reda Hashem Safieddine, the son of a cleric and head of the Executive Council of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the nephew of Abdullah Safieddine, the representative of Hezbollah in Iran.

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Final Night of Pro-Palestinian Protests at DNC Kicks off with Festive, Family-friendly Tone

Thousands of mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters have marched and demonstrated outside the Democratic National Convention, in a show of anger against the Biden administration's support for Israel in the Gaza war. ( Reuters Photo)
Thousands of mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters have marched and demonstrated outside the Democratic National Convention, in a show of anger against the Biden administration's support for Israel in the Gaza war. ( Reuters Photo)
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Final Night of Pro-Palestinian Protests at DNC Kicks off with Festive, Family-friendly Tone

Thousands of mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters have marched and demonstrated outside the Democratic National Convention, in a show of anger against the Biden administration's support for Israel in the Gaza war. ( Reuters Photo)
Thousands of mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters have marched and demonstrated outside the Democratic National Convention, in a show of anger against the Biden administration's support for Israel in the Gaza war. ( Reuters Photo)

Pro-Palestinian protests during the final hours of the Democratic National Convention began Thursday night much like they had earlier this week — largely peaceful with a family-friendly atmosphere.

The crowd of thousands slowly snaked through residential areas surrounding the United Center. Some wore red T-shirts that said “Not In Our Name” while others held signs that said “End U.S. Aid to Israel.”

At Union Park ahead of the march, the grassy field teemed with Palestinian flags, and a speaker system played Palestinian dance songs. The gathering was organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, a group of more than 200 organizations that also ran a similar event on Monday night, The AP reported.

The largely festive atmosphere was briefly interrupted by the arrival of Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, who said he was interested in “hearing alternative points of view.” After describing himself as a supporter of Israel, Ramaswamy was driven from the park by protesters chanting “racists go home.”

Protesters attempted to call attention to what they see as a lack of Palestinian voices within the arena hosting the DNC. Standing at the edge of the crowd, Lisa Pint, a 61-year-old volunteer wearing buttons in support of the Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, said she wanted to see the protest as a “neutral” observer. But after speaking with an activist, Pint said she’d come to the conclusion that a Palestinian voice should have been represented on the convention stage.

“I didn’t think of it until a protester said it. It’s a good point,” said Pint, a nurse in the Chicago suburbs. “I’m very strong for Kamala and Walz, but they should have been included.”

Leaders of an “Uncommitted” movement, which garnered hundreds of thousands of votes in Democratic primaries across the nation in protest of the Israel-Hamas war, expressed frustration ahead of the convention when weekslong negotiations to secure a speaking slot for a Palestinian American at the DNC stalled.

Chicago police said Thursday that they are not changing any of their tactics and are ready for a final night of pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Democratic National Convention, after a peaceful march that resulted in no injuries or arrests.

On Wednesday night, more than 2,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched peacefully past a park where pro-Israel demonstrators had gathered earlier. That demonstration came a day after violent clashes between police and protesters led to 56 arrests at a much smaller, unsanctioned protest outside the Israeli Consulate in downtown Chicago.

Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the protest Wednesday night ended without arrests and that no one was injured.

Snelling praised the organizers of the Wednesday protest, saying it’s an example of how people can hold First Amendment-protected demonstrations peacefully by collaborating in advance with law enforcement.

“Did we have a couple dustups? Sure, but those things were quickly rectified,” he said.

The biggest protest so far, which attracted about 3,500 people on Monday, was largely peaceful and resulted in 13 arrests, most related to a breach of security fencing. They did not gain access to the inner security perimeter at the United Center, where the convention is taking place.

Two people were arrested Sunday night during another mostly peaceful march.