Senior Egyptian security officials say Hamas purchased the precision mortars from rebels who looted Muammar Khaddafi’s reserves after the Libyan strongman was toppled by a U.S.-NATO campaign in 2011.
The rebels also reportedly acquired thousands of shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, or MANPADS, said to be capable of downing passenger jets.
The security officials said the mortars, believed to number in the hundreds, were smuggled into Gaza during the administration of Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood leader who served as Egyptian president until being deposed in July 2013.
The GPS-driven mortars defy Israel’s Iron Dome and can be devastating, said the officials.
Last Tuesday alone, 12 mortars were fired at the Eshkol region outside of Gaza, scoring direct hits and killing one civilian while injuring seven, two of whom were critically wounded. Two days earlier, mortars scored direct hits at the Erez Crossing area, injuring four civilians.
New Book To Give Obama Political Headaches, MSNBC Predicts
Controversy surrounding the September 11, 2012 Benghazi attacks is poised to return with a “vengeance” this month, threatening political headaches for President Obama and Hillary Clinton, warns MSNBC.
The news network specifically fingers a new book by this radio host reporter, The REAL Benghazi Story: What the White House and Hillary Don’t Want You to Know as being responsible in part for the renewed Benghazi publicity. Also blamed is the upcoming anniversary of the attacks as well as the jumpstart of the special House committee investigating Benghazi when Congress returns from its August recess.
MSNBC reports the new book promises “to blow the lid off” “shocking,” “devastating,” and “mind-blowing” new details of the Benghazi attack.
Continues the news network: “Klein’s audience is undoubtedly the already-converted, but three of his previous books have made it to The New York Times bestseller list, and his latest is easy fodder for the conservative echo chamber.”
MSNBC also reports that Klein “has interview commitments with top-tier cable, radio and print outlets.”
“Benghazi coming back with a vengeance in September” is the title of the MSNBC article. It reports that the renewed interest in Benghazi is expected to cause “a headache for the teams surrounding Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.”