Posted by
Gabrielle Cusumano on Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:23:29 AM
BAGHDAD — Coalition forces have reported Iran may be supplying medium-range rockets to Shi'ite militias in Iraq.
On April 19, Iraqi troops, as part of Operation Charge of the Knights, discovered a cache of munitions that included a 240 mm high-explosive warhead in
Basra.
"The success in finding these large caches was also due in part by numerous tips from concerned local Iraqis," Lt. Col. Neil Harper, a spokesman for Multi-National Corps-Iraq, said.
The warhead, which contained Iranian markings, was said to be the most advanced weapon found in the possession of the Mahdi Army.
Officials said the warhead appeared to be part of the Fajr-5 medium-range rocket produced by Iran and transferred to Hizbullah in 2006. So far, they said, Shi'ite militias were not believed to have fired a 240 mm rocket in Iraq.
Other weapons found in the Shi'ite militia cache in Basra included 160 mortars, 25 artillery shells and a large quantity of explosives. Officials said the weapons contained Iranian markings and appeared less than a year old. (This is an excerpt. To read more of this article go to the World Tribune at: http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2008/me_iran0080_04_23.asp