Yarmouk munitions factory explosion

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]

Yarmouk munitions factory explosion
Part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict
TypeAir raid (unconfirmed)
Location
Khartoum, Sudan

15.494719°N 32.510406°E / 15.494719; 32.510406
TargetYarmouk munitions factory
Date23 October 2012
00:00 (UTC+3)
Executed byIsraeli Air Force (alleged)
Casualties2 killed
1 injured
Location of the Yarmouk munitions factory

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
  •  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]
  •  Israel Amos Gilad, an Israeli defence official, said on 24 October that "Sudan is a dangerous terrorist state" but refused to confirm an Israeli involvement.[5]
  •  Iran sent two Iranian warships to Sudan, where the fleet commanders met with Sudanese navy commanders.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Sudan Accuses Israel of Bombing Khartoum Military Factory, Threatens Retaliation". Naharnet. 24 October 2012.
  2. "Sudan threatens retaliation over alleged Israeli air strike". Guardian. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  3. "Huge fire, explosions at military factory in Sudan capital". Sudan Tribune. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. Sudan opposition: Bombed arms factory belongs to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Haaretz October 24, 2012.
  5. "Khartoum fire blamed on Israeli bombing". Al Jazeera. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  6. "Sudan blames Israel for Khartoum arms factory blast". BBC. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  7. Ulf Laessing, Khalid Abdelaziz (October 24, 2012). "Sudan blames Israeli air strike hit for munitions plant blasts". Reuters. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  8. "Israeli jets bomb Sudan missile site in dry run for Iran attack". Sunday Times. 28 October 2012.
  9. "Satellite pictures suggest Sudanese weapons factory hit by air strike". The Guardian. October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  10. "Sudan arms factory blast: Khartoum to report Israel to UN". BBC. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  11. "Iran's warships dock in Sudan: report". Reuters. October 30, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
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