Yarmouk munitions factory explosion
| Yarmouk munitions factory explosion | |
|---|---|
| Part of Israel–Iran proxy conflict | |
  Location of the Yarmouk munitions factory | |
| Type | Air raid (unconfirmed) |
| Location | Khartoum, Sudan 15°29′41″N 32°30′37″E / 15.494719°N 32.510406°ECoordinates: 15°29′41″N 32°30′37″E / 15.494719°N 32.510406°E |
| Target | Yarmouk munitions factory |
| Date | 23 October 2012 24:00 (UTC+3) |
| Casualties | 2 killed 1 injured |
On Tuesday 23 October 2012 at midnight local time (21:00 GMT) there was an explosion at the Yarmouk munitions factory, south of Khartoum, Sudan.[1] The factory had been built in 1996.[2] According to Khartoum state governor Abdel Rahman Al-Khidir the explosion probably happened at the main storage facility.[3] The resulting fire resulted in the death of two people and one person being injured. According to Sudanese opposition, the arms factory belonged to Iran's Revolutionary Guard.[4]
Ahmed Bilal Osman, Sudanese culture and information minister, blamed this on an airstrike by four Israeli aircraft. He claimed that Sudan found unexploded Israeli rockets.[5][6] Analysts say that Sudan is used as an arms-smuggling route to the Gaza Strip, which is governed by the Islamist militant organization Hamas.[7]
According to Sunday Times, this operation "was seen as a dry run for a forthcoming attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities".[8]
Analysis by military experts at the Satellite Sentinel Project suggested that the target may have been a batch of around 40 shipping containers, containing highly volatile cargo.[9]
Reaction
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Sudan Osman further said that Sudan has a "right to react"[6] and to strike Israel.[7] Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, Sudanese ambassador to the UN, brought the case to the UN Security council.[5] He also claimed that Israel had violated Sudanese air space three times in recent years.[10] Three hundred people chanted outside of a government building "Death to Israel" and "Remove Israel from the map."[7]
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Israel On 24 October 2012 Amos Gilad, an Israeli defence official, said that "Sudan is a dangerous terrorist state" but refused to confirm an Israeli involvement.[5]
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Iran sent two Iranian warships to Sudan, where the fleet commanders met with Sudanese navy commanders.[11]
See also
- Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory — a pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum that was destroyed by a US cruise missile in 1998
- 2009 Sudan airstrikes — two alleged Israeli airstrikes in Sudan in 2009
References
- ↑ "Sudan Accuses Israel of Bombing Khartoum Military Factory, Threatens Retaliation". Naharnet. 24 October 2012.
- ↑ "Sudan threatens retaliation over alleged Israeli air strike". Guardian. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ↑ "Huge fire, explosions at military factory in Sudan capital". Sudan Tribune. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ↑ Sudan opposition: Bombed arms factory belongs to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Haaretz October 24, 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Khartoum fire blamed on Israeli bombing". Al Jazeera. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Sudan blames Israel for Khartoum arms factory blast". BBC. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- 1 2 3 Ulf Laessing, Khalid Abdelaziz (October 24, 2012). "Sudan blames Israeli air strike hit for munitions plant blasts". Reuters. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ↑ "Israeli jets bomb Sudan missile site in dry run for Iran attack". Sunday Times. 28 October 2012.
- ↑ "Satellite pictures suggest Sudanese weapons factory hit by air strike". The Guardian. October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ↑ "Sudan arms factory blast: Khartoum to report Israel to UN". BBC. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ↑ "Iran's warships dock in Sudan: report". Reuters. October 30, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.