Morsi, Mashaal slam 'Israeli aggression' against Sudan

Egyptian president, Hamas chief offer Khartoum their support; condemn 'barbaric attack'

Roi Kais|Published: 10.26.12 , 11:11

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi spoke with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir over the phone on Thursday, and condemned what he called the "Israeli aggression against Sudan."

Sudan reported that fighter jets bombed a weapons facility in Khartoum on Tuesday, and blamed Israel for the attack.

Related stories:

Khartoum officials, including Al-Bashir and Vice President Ali Osman Taha warned that Sudan reserves the right to retaliate over the attack.

Taha went on to say that "Israel is a country of injustice that needs to be deterred."

Sudan, which analysts say is used as an arms smuggling route to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip via neighboring Egypt, has blamed Israel for such strikes in the past but Israel has always refused to comment. Israeli officials remained mum this week, as well.

Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal also spoke with the Sudanese president and condemned the bombing, saying it was a "barbarian attack" by Israel.

Colonel Alsawarmi Khalid Saad, spokesman for the Sudanese Army, said that it was possible Israel had the help of a mole within Khartoum's ranks.

"Sudan is not immune against foreign plots and it's possible this was a case of cooperation… It's normal in every military."

On Thursday, foreign intelligence sources said that Israel carried out an unmanned drone raid on a convoy south of Khartoum in September, adding that the strike destroyed 200 tons of munitions, including rockets, intended for Gaza.