Yarmouk munitions factory explosion
Yarmouk munitions factory explosion | |
---|---|
Part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict | |
Type | Air raid (unconfirmed) |
Location | 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 00:00 (UTC+3) |
Executed by | Israeli Air Force (alleged) |
Casualties | 2 killed 1 injured |
![]() ![]() Location of the Yarmouk munitions factory |
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 , 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[]
Sudan Osman further said that Sudan has a "right to react"[6] and to strike Israel.[7] , 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[]
- 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.
- ^ a b c "Khartoum fire blamed on Israeli bombing". Al Jazeera. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Sudan blames Israel for Khartoum arms factory blast". BBC. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ a b c 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. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
External links[]
- 2012 in Sudan
- Airstrikes by target
- Aerial operations and battles involving Israel
- October 2012 events in Africa
- 21st century in Khartoum
- Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Israel–Sudan military relations