Israel's Cast Lead counter-terror operation in Gaza has resulted in Egypt sending forces to its border with Sudan in an effort to prevent smuggling into the Hamas-controlled area, according to a senior intelligence source cited by Haaretz. News of Egypt's reinforcement efforts comes in the wake of foreign media reports saying that the Israel Air Force attacked a convoy of Iranian arms passing through Sudan en route to the Gaza Strip in Sudan in January.
The source told the newspaper, "The Egyptians are patrolling the border and inspecting it. They weren't doing that until now. They started doing it because of the increased international pressure to act against the smuggling. But so far, the results are only partial." The source said Iran established smuggling networks via the Persian Gulf, Aden and east Africa, with an emphasis on Sudan.