Report: Iran smuggling weapons to Syria, Lebanon with passenger planes

Iran is smuggling weapons to Damascus and Beirut via commercial aircraft, according to a report aired Wednesday by German broadcaster ZDF.

The report cited Western security sources and other unspecified information that the TV station had obtained.

The type of weaponry transported was not mentioned, but the shipments were apparently paid for by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which supports the Bashar Assad regime in Syria and the terror organization Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Two carriers were implicated in the report, Iran Air and Yas Air.

The US has previously accused Tehran of sending arms to Hezbollah under the guise of passenger planes. ZDF’s report mentioned one instance, in March 2011, where Turkish officials in Diyabarkier intercepted a Yas Air commercial flight that was carrying weapons and explosives to Damascus.