British special forces seize Iranian rockets in Afghanistan

Source: The Guardian

Julian Borger and Richard Norton-Taylor

British special forces in Afghanistan have intercepted an Iranian shipment of rockets to the Taliban that would have allowed them to double the range of their attacks, western diplomats have said.

The rockets were discovered after an intelligence tip-off on 5 February when British special forces and Afghan troops stopped a convoy in Nimruz province, in the south-west of Afghanistan bordering Iran and Pakistan, the officials said. A shoot-out involving the special forces left several Taliban fighters dead.

The vehicles were found to be carrying 48 122mm rockets, which western sources described as "substantial weapons" with a range of more than 12 miles. A diplomat with knowledge of the arms shipment said that was double the range of the usual Taliban weapons.

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The weapons were recently manufactured, rigorous technical and intelligence examination had shown, the sources said. "They were doctored and tampered with to look as they came from a third party but were of proven Iranian origin," an official said.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/09/iranian-rockets-afghanistan-taliban-nimruz

Iran is selling/giving away weapons? I thought we were only allowed to do that.

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Boys are warming up now.

Don't forget Iran foolishly gave its blessing to NATO for attack and occupation of Afghanistan. The unintended consequences are that it now faces hostile forces on three fronts (Iraq border, the Gulf, and Afghan border); karma is a bitch.

I mean, what would they have to gain?

No names, dates, specific locations, or facts that one might check.

I have no doubt that Iran does not favor our success in Afghanistan, or that they tolerate Taliban for that reason. That does not infer in any sense that this story is not propaganda created for the occasion.