Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt has captured another large cache of surface-to-air
missiles destined for the Gaza Strip.

Security sources said the Egyptian Army and police joined for several
operations in which SAMs, surface-to-surface rockets and anti-tank guided
missiles have been intercepted. They said the weapons were believed to have
been smuggled from neighboring Libya.

“These weapons could have caused instability throughout the country
[Egypt],” a security source said.

On May 20, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said security forces seized
191 rockets headed for the Gaza Strip. The ministry said the weapons
included SAMs and BM-21 Grad rockets believed smuggled from Libya.

This marked the second interception of a major weapons convoy from Libya toward Sinai. On May 17, authorities reported the seizure of 30 SAM-7s in northern Sinai as well as mortars and vehicles.

“The deliveries are growing larger and the weapons more advanced,” the source said.

The sources said the weapons were believed to have been ordered by Hamas
and Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip. They said about 80 percent of
the weapons were meant to have been transported to the Gaza Strip, with the
remainder for Bedouin smugglers in Sinai.

Egypt has sought to demonstrate increased capabilities to stop weapons
and other smuggling to the Gaza Strip. On May 19, security forces captured
two vehicles loaded with fuel said to have been ordered by the Hamas regime.
This marked the fifth seizure of fuel tanks suspected of heading to Gaza in
three days.

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