Oxfam Names Syria and Iran and Arms Violators

By JTA May 4, 2012

A new report by Oxfam International names Iran and Syria as major violators of arms embargoes over the last decade.

Overall, the report indicates that more than $2.2 billion in arms and ammunition has since 2000 been imported to countries under arms embargoes.

According to the figures, Syria imported $167 million worth of air defense systems and missiles and $1 million worth of small arms in 2010 in violation of arms embargoes on the country. Some of these weapons have played a role in the Assad regime’s crackdown on Syrian protesters.

In addition, the report found that Iran traded $574 million in arms from 2007-2010.

The report, “The Devil is in the Detail,” was released Thursday by the humanitarian agency.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO