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Reuters: Iran Using Iraqi Airspace Almost Daily to Fly Arms to Syria, Iraq Denies

Sep. 20, 2012 8:03am Sharona Schwartz

Reuters rolled out what it’s calling an exclusive story Wednesday evening, reporting that Iran has secretly been transporting “large quantities of weapons” and military personnel under the cover of civilian aircraft – via Iraqi airspace – to aid embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as he battles insurgent forces.

The news agency’s reporting is based on a Western intelligence report it obtained. It reports:

Earlier this month, U.S. officials said they were questioning Iraq about Iranian flights in Iraqi airspace suspected of ferrying arms to Assad, a staunch Iranian ally. On Wednesday, U.S. Senator John Kerry threatened to review U.S. aid to Baghdad if it does not halt such overflights.

Iraq says it does not allow the passage of any weapons through its airspace. But the intelligence report obtained by Reuters says Iranian weapons have been flowing into Syria via Iraq in large quantities. Such transfers, the report says, are organized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“This is part of a revised Iranian modus operandi that U.S. officials have only recently addressed publicly, following previous statements to the contrary,” said the report, a copy of which was provided by a U.N. diplomatic source.

“It also flies in the face of declarations by Iraqi officials,” it said. “Planes are flying from Iran to Syria via Iraq on an almost daily basis, carrying IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) personnel and tens of tons of weapons to arm the Syrian security forces and militias fighting against the rebels.”

Shi’ite Iran is an ally of Syria’s minority Alawite regime – an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. The Iraqi population is also majority Shi’ite, making the three natural allies. The intelligence report said Iran also continues to send trucks overland via Iraqi territory to Assad’s forces. Reuters reports:

Although the specific charges about Iraq allowing Iran to transfer arms to Damascus are not new, the intelligence report alleges that the extent of such shipments is far greater than has been publicly acknowledged, and much more systematic, thanks to an agreement between senior Iraqi and Iranian officials.

Ali al-Moussawi, media adviser to Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, calls the allegations untrue. He tells Reuters:

“Iraq rejects baseless allegations that it allows Iran to use its airspace to ship arms to Syria,” he said. “The prime minister has always called for a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict and … the need for a ban on any state interfering in Syria whether by sending arms or helping others to do so.”

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry at a hearing Wednesday urged Iraq to avoid “fanning the flames of violence” by allowing Iran to use its airspace in support of Assad.

The alarm has been voiced to Iraqi counterparts on repeated occasions. Senators John McCain (R-Arizona), Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) recently raised the issue with the Iraqi prime minister on a visit to the Middle Eastern nation. The State Department has also discussed this with Iraqi authorities. CNN reports:

During a confirmation hearing of the nomination of Robert Beecroft as ambassador to Iraq, Kerry said the issue was an important test case for Iraq.

“It’s not surprising that Iraq seeks neighborly relations with Iran. But the reports of Iran using Iraqi airspace to resupply Assad’s ruthless regime are troubling,” Kerry said.

“Just this week, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps acknowledged that Iran is providing assistance and training to groups inside Syria, begging the question of how else Iranian materiel might get into Syria. This is a problem, and it will only grow worse if not addressed.”

The designated ambassador Beecroft told the committee, “We are pressing them to force the flights to land and be inspected.”

AP quoted Sen. Kerry saying Iraq can’t have it both ways: on the one hand benefiting from U.S. aid and on the other, allowing Iran to transport weapons via its airspace and overland.

Also on Wednesday, the Treasury Department sanctioned 117 Iranian aircraft it believes are ferrying weapons to Syria. Reuters says that the intelligence report it obtained included two Boeing 747s and their tail numbers which were on the Treasury Department list.

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Comments (27)

DisposableWorker
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:13pm
Time to start pulling a little Curtiss E. LeMay style “diplomacy”.

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DisposableWorker
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:01pm
Addional reading here: http://debka.com/article/22376/Washington’s-Iran-war-game-vs-real-Iranian-Israeli-war-preparations

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- Metalstr8jckt
  Posted on March 25, 2013 at 9:48pm
  @DISPOSABLEWORKER; I applaud your providing a link to Debkafile, for others who may not know of tit. An unbiased site on real issues in the middle east. Fortunately some will hyperlink there, to see the only true friend of America in the region and her accounting of the Islamic sirocco of hellfire whirling around.
  
  I am glad that antisemitism has not reared it’s ugly crescent moon head everywhere.
  
  Report this comment
lessoneleg
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:59pm
You cannot hide from AWACS coverage. It’s all there, just hidden from view.

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- DisposableWorker
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:00pm
  Look up JSTARS
  
  Report this comment
steveh931
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 1:13pm
There’s only one end to this, it won’t be a pleasant journey getting there. The citizens of the world will soon be reminded of the wrath that can be served upon a non believing world, a world that is divided by the sinful thoughts of man. Either you are of heaven, or of earth. Take your time to decide, enjoy your scientific theories, for the one that gave you breath will send his answer. Mankind cannot solve the problems and discontent that fill ones heart, only the Lord can do that.

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- DisposableWorker
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:03pm
  Right on baby!
  
  Report this comment
Tickdog
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 12:16pm
so shoot the planes down..

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- Walkabout
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:14pm
  So we violate Iraqi airspace & that will go well for us?
  
  The lib_f/ckers in this country when then tie another hand behind Americas back so that both hands were tied up.
  
  Besides the great Commander in Chief Baruch Inssein Obama pulled all pout troops out of Iraq.
  
  Report this comment
hayesstephen
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:59am
Now we know the real reason we left Iraq. Start using your heads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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- DisposableWorker
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:08pm
  That’s right; our “leadership” has done a “YALTA” and handed over the near-east to their Islamist allies. We will abandon Israel just as Poland was left to suffer and and just as we abandoned the RVN.
  
  Report this comment
Grand design
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:18am
Knock one of their planes down and see whats going on! Problem solved!

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SVH80
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:04am
When asked to respond to the accusations, Iraq was quoted as saying “Nu-uh!”

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101stIraqVet
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:33am
“Senator John Kerry threatened to review U.S. aid to Baghdad if it does not halt such overflights.”

Way to seem like you give a s***, Johnny Boy. F*** off.

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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:14am
Well good thing we spend hundreds of billions of dollars there in Iraq and the blood of our sons and daughters stains their soil. Look like it’s paying dividends now eh?

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- Metalstr8jckt
  Posted on March 25, 2013 at 10:00pm
  The costs savings to American taxpayers in $$$ will be evident when the Saattanic(Iranians) demonstrate to their enemies what Japan learned as a lesson in WWII= Nuclear reactions with a few tons of fissionable material change the mindset of entire countries quickly, and the population census of the living as well, and do it cheaply.
  
  Ahmadinejad, and Khameni as well as the Islamic madmen of the Brotherhood should have been forced to go the way of Saddam years ago. On good strong lengths of hemp rope, and a quick drop.
  
  Removal from the living works well to change despotic totalitarian leadership.
  
  Too late now.
  
  Report this comment
Sirfoldallot
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:13am
Iraq use 2 be @ war with Iran, thanks alot G. Bush.

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marybethelizabeth
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:58am
The best way to stop supposed Iraqi arms shipments is for the US to stop arming Syrian rebels.

Monkey see. Monkey do.
We stop. They stop

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- Walkabout
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:21pm
  I get it. If the Russian hadn’t armed the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, then Hitler wouldn’t have armed the Nationalists. Because you know Hitler was a honorable guy just like Khameini.
  
  It works every time!
  
  Who would have “THUNK” such a thing!.
  ***
  On another note Iran was pouring resource in there before we ever gave the rebels comm gear.
  
  On a more serious note have you been taking your thorazine?
  
  Report this comment
- Metalstr8jckt
  Posted on March 25, 2013 at 10:08pm
  @MARYBETHELIZABETH: Your logic does not work. Example 1: Cave dweller is tired of getting beat up and his food taken away by stronger foe…..Makes sharp pointy sticks(probably based on Phallic inspiration) Yes, we men are pre-occupied with sex. The point being; sharp pointy sticks started the first arms race, out of necessity.
  
  Wishful utopian thinking never worked(Where is utopia?) have not seen it yet. Nor has anyone in 5000 years of wars and Phoenix rebirths of societies afterwards.
  
  Report this comment
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:49am
Until we start shooting down these overflights all we are doing is BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

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sndrman
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:41am
i just happened to be watching a commercial wounder warriors, how truly truly sad…..what our Soldiers did for the iraqi peoples…… regardless of if it was right to go into iraq or not,this is a huge slap to our Soldiers……….this president is known to be weak and an appeasers that they openly do whatever they want……..this president goes on late night shows,and interviews with entertainment mags,hanging out with millionaires and billionaires………right in front of our faces, while the world comes unraveled………. it’s good to know the news organizations are on top of this(not)….oh yea it’s bush’s fault and mitts a bad guy…………..

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Delores at CH WV
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:27am
And where is America on this issue???? Is Hillary giving out more $$$$M or Bs to them? It is time to throw this government out on their backsides; Hillary, Obama, Holder, Big Sis Must step down and out of the country or stand trial for aiding the enemies of the US.

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Gonzo
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:20am
It’s really hard to care for the Syrian rebels when you see how well Egypt and Libya are turning out. Assad is an American hating bastard, but he will just be replaced by another America hating bastard if the rebels win.

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- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:17am
  Amen to that. Did you ever think that you’d be pulling for Assad?!?!? WTF? In that, Iran would be fronting him and our own government would be giving our tax dollars to Al Qaeda? You can’t make this stuff up.
  
  Report this comment
cloudsofwar
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:13am
how long before Iraq says “DEATH TO AMERICA”?

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- Gonzo
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:21am
  That’s been going on since the 80′s.
  
  Report this comment

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