The Iraqi High Committee for Investigating Arms Smuggling to Syria begins its work; results expected within 48 hours.
The Iraqi High Committee for Investigating Arms Smuggling to Syria begins its work; results expected within 48 hours.
2026-07-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A high-level security source reported that the Supreme Committee tasked with investigating the smuggling of a shipment of weapons across the border with the Syrian side has actually begun its work today, Friday.
The source explained in a statement to Shafaq News Agency that the investigation will not be limited to the border crossing administration and the civil departments there, but has expanded to include a wide range of security units and military checkpoints responsible for securing the land routes and the various areas that the tanker traveled through and passed through during its journey before reaching the border.
He added that the committee is continuing to review the service logs and inspection reports of the checkpoints deployed along this route, and will submit the results of the investigation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces within a maximum period of 48 hours for the purpose of approval.
This comes in conjunction with the announcement by the Joint Operations Command, yesterday, Thursday, that, under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, it has formed a high-level committee of relevant authorities and specialists to examine the repercussions of thwarting an operation to smuggle weapons and missiles across the Iraqi border into Syrian territory.
The command stated in a statement that coordination will be made with the Syrian side to find out all the details related to this operation, and to hold those responsible accountable in order to ensure the preservation of the security and stability of the shared borders, and to prevent any attempts to undermine national security.
The Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs confirmed yesterday, Thursday, that it had thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of drones and missiles through the Al-Tanf border crossing, which were tightly hidden inside one of the oil tankers heading to the city of Banias.
For its part, the Syrian Interior Ministry announced through the official news agency (SANA) that it had thwarted an attempt to smuggle this shipment of sophisticated weapons and missiles across the border, noting that initial investigations showed that the seized shipment was intended to be smuggled across Syrian territory for the benefit of the Lebanese Hezbollah.
A high-ranking Iraqi security source revealed to Shafaq News the details of the smuggling operation, indicating that a tanker left Iraqi territory by land about 9 days ago towards Syrian territory via the Al-Tanf crossing.
The source explained that the tanker traveled vast distances and bypassed several security checkpoints and major control points between the governorates, taking advantage of the presentation of official documents stating that it was a shipment of “black oil,” in addition to the fact that the tanker’s mouth was completely closed and sealed by customs, with instructions prohibiting its opening before reaching the final destination, under the pretext of avoiding the rejection of the shipment by the intended country.
According to intelligence information, the tanker passed through those checkpoints and areas without arousing suspicion, and crossed the Al-Tanf crossing, taking advantage of the lack of specialized sonar devices to detect weapons or prohibited materials inside liquid tanks at the crossing, as well as the inability to detect them by police dogs (K9) due to the weapons being wrapped in insulating bags and submerged in thick black oil to make detection difficult.
According to reports, the tanker managed to cross the Iraqi side completely, but upon reaching the Syrian side and undergoing a thorough inspection, it was found to be loaded with large quantities of weapons, missiles, and drones hidden in a professional manner for the purpose of camouflage and bypassing surveillance.
The security source told our agency that the shipment’s passage through several regions and governorates before reaching the border represents a “serious multi-layered security breach” that necessitates an urgent investigation to identify those responsible along the shipment’s route, hold accountable any party that was lax in the inspection processes, and strengthen control measures at both border crossings and checkpoints.
shafaq.com
