Security sources say there are hundreds of thousands of illegal weapons circulating in the area.
By Hezy Laing
Iran has sharply escalated its campaign to smuggle advanced weapons into Judea and Samaria, with Israeli intelligence warning that the goal is to replicate the scale and brutality of the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre.
Security sources say there are hundreds of thousands of illegal weapons circulating in the area.
The IDF and Shin Bet have launched extensive counterterrorism operations to intercept these arms shipments and prevent a second mass casualty attack.
The terror groups most active in Judea and Samaria are Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both of which have openly declared their intent to replicate the October 7 massacre in the area.
Meanwhile PA security forces also have also expressed willingness to attack Jewish targets.
Hamas has sought to turn Judea and Samaria into a new arena of terrorism, while PIJ has shifted its operational focus there after the Gaza ceasefire.
Smaller Iranian‑backed factions also operate in coordination with these groups, attempting to destabilize the region by arming local cells.
In recent months, Iranian-backed networks have funneled drones, anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles, mortar launchers, and explosives into Judea and Samaria.
A dramatic seizure in Jenin revealed rockets, forty Claymore mines with wireless activation systems, and caches of bombs intended for Islamic Jihad and Hamas operatives.
Israeli officials say the smuggling effort intensified after the Trump-backed ceasefire in Gaza, when Islamic Jihad shifted its operational focus to Jude and Samaria.
Analysts warn that Iran is attempting to transform Judea and Samaria into a “Gaza-style terrorist hub,” capable of staging coordinated massacres against Israeli civilians.
The IDF has responded with large-scale drills across Samaria and Judea, incorporating lessons from the October 7 war.
Brig. Gen. Itamar Ben-Haim and Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman have overseen operations that include coordinated raids, intelligence sharing, and the detention of thousands of suspects.
In October 2025, the Shin Bet and IDF dismantled a sprawling Iranian arms pipeline, hailed as one of the most significant counter-smuggling successes of the yearthejudean.com.
Security forces emphasize that the threat is not hypothetical. Iranian weapons have already been used in attacks against Israeli patrols and settlements.
The IDF reports that dozens of attempted infiltrations were foiled in 2024 and 2025, with hundreds of weapons seized.
The Paran Brigade and special units have been deployed to reinforce vulnerable areas, while Highway 232 and other access routes are under constant surveillance.
The escalation underscores Iran’s strategic intent to open a new front in Judea and Samaria, bypassing Gaza’s heavy fortifications. Israeli officials warn that without aggressive countermeasures, the region could witness a second massacre.
For now, the combination of intelligence operations, rapid-response raids, and community defense squads has prevented mass casualties, but the threat remains acute.
