Truck full of arms seized near Syria-Turkey border
Turkish security forces arrest three passengers, who claimed they were transferring aid on behalf of a relief organization
A truck loaded with weapons and ammunition bound for Syria was apprehended by Turkish security forces Wednesday, and three of the vehicles’ passengers were arrested by authorities.
The truck was halted in the southern province of Hatay near the Syrian border, the Turkish daily Hurriyet reported, after intelligence reports indicated that the vehicle may be carrying arms.
The passengers in the truck claimed the vehicle was transferring aid on behalf of the Islamic Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), AFP reported.
The IHH denied the passengers’ claims, and stated that the passengers had acted on their own accord.
“Our organization has nothing to do with this case,” a spokesman for the relief group told AFP.
In November, Turkish authorities seized 1,200 rocket heads after searching a truck in Adana, 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border.
Turkey, which shares a 910-kilometer (566-mile) border with Syria, is a major hub for rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime. Turkey has also been accused of harboring rebels associated with al-Qaeda who operate across the border in Syria.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
The Times of Israel Community.