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IDF reveals massive weapons cache seized from Hezbollah and Hamas
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has granted media access to the Tzrifin Base in central Israel, showcasing a massive arsenal seized from Hezbollah and Hamas during operations in Gaza and Lebanon. The captured equipment includes rockets, mortars, drones, sniper rifles, and anti-tank launchers.
The weaponry originates from a wide range of international manufacturers, including Iran, Russia, China, and Austria. Notably, the cache contains historical artifacts from the Nazi era, such as an MG-34 machine gun featuring an eagle and swastika, and an MP 44 (StG 44) assault rifle. Lt. Col. (res.) Idan Sharon-Kettler, commander of the Captured Equipment Evacuation Unit, suggested these vintage weapons might have been maintained for propaganda or to boost combatant morale.
Beyond traditional firearms, the IDF highlighted the use of dual-use civilian equipment. This includes modified Egyptian Halawa Motors motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles repurposed to carry anti-tank rocket launchers. The IDF also reported finding weapons, such as mortars, deployed within residential areas in southern Lebanon, a claim Hezbollah has historically contested.
Entities
Hamas · Hezbollah · Idan Sharon-Kettler · Iran · Israel Defense Forces · Tzrifin · Tzrifin Base
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The arsenal includes weapons from Iran, Russia, China, and Austria. totalnewsagency.com · www.wwbl.com · www.secretchina.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The cache contains an MP 44 (StG 44) assault rifle. totalnewsagency.com · www.secretchina.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The IDF seized Steyr HS. 50 sniper rifles from Austria. www.secretchina.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The IDF revealed a massive weapons cache at the Tzrifin Base. totalnewsagency.com · www.wwbl.com · www.secretchina.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Lt. Col. Idan Sharon-Kettler suggested the Nazi-era weapons may have been kept for propaganda or morale purposes. totalnewsagency.com · www.secretchina.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Civilian vehicles, including Egyptian Halawa Motors motorcycles, have been modified for military use. www.secretchina.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Weapons were seized from Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza and Lebanon. totalnewsagency.com · www.wwbl.com · www.secretchina.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A Nazi-era MG-34 machine gun with swastika markings was recovered from a Hezbollah compound in Lebanon. totalnewsagency.com · www.wwbl.com · www.secretchina.com