Israelis Seize Ship Carrying Iranian Arms
by IPT News • Mar 15, 2011 at 9:23 am
http://www.investigativeproject.org/2688/israelis-seize-ship-carrying-iranian-arms
Israeli commandos intercepted a ship loaded with tons of Iranian-supplied weapons that was destined for Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, reports indicate.
The elite Naval Commando 13 unit, the Shayetet, boarded the Liberian-flagged ship Victoria 200 miles off Israel's coast in the Mediterranean Sea Tuesday. Its last port of call was in Turkey.
Haaretz reports that the cargo started in Syria, stopped in Turkey and was to arrive in Egypt's El-Arish port. From there, it would be sent by land into Gaza. Crew members apparently were unaware of the nature of their cargo, and an Israeli military official said Turkey was not responsible "in any aspect."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to release more details about the shipment in the next day. He gave the order to board the ship based on what the Jerusalem Post called "firm intelligence" it carried Iranian arms headed to Gaza.
"The attempt to smuggle weapons into Gaza shows that there are radical forces who continue to try and harm Israel and undermine stability in the region," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.
It's the latest successful interception of arms shipments by Israeli commandos. This 2009 story offers more examples.
Prayers for Israel.