Massive Arms Shipment Intended for Hezbollah Intercepted by Israel Navy 4/11/09

Massive Arms Shipment Intended for Hezbollah Intercepted by Israel Navy 4/11/09

A special Navy force intercepted and boarded a ship 100 miles off the coast of Israel. The ship, carrying the flag of Antigua, was carrying 500 tons of weapons in civilian disguise.


On Tuesday (Nov. 3) an exceptionally large quantity of weapons, rockets, and missiles was uncovered onboard a cargo vessel intercepted by the Israel Navy Special Forces and brought to the Ashdod port.

Dozens of shipping containers found on the ship were carrying 500 tons of weapons and ordnance disguised as civilian cargo among hundreds of other containers onboard. The amount of weapons found is 10 times larger than the Karin A ship intercepted in January 2002.

Israel Naval and Engineering Corps are unloading the containers and are sorting through the various types of weaponry found onboard.

As part of the Israel Navy's routine activity to maintain security and prevent arms smuggling, a force comprised of naval commandos, missile boats, and intelligence and explosive experts intercepted a cargo vessel bearing the name "Francop", which was flying an Antiguan flag.

The naval commando force boarded the vessel and conducted an initial search. The search was conducted in accordance with the usual search protocols as dictated by International Law. The Captain of the ship agreed to the search and no force of any kind was used during the operation.

Following the initial search and after it became clear that the vessel was carrying weapons, the vessel was directed by the Israel Navy to dock at an Israel Navy base in Ashdod in for additional searches and a detailed inspection of the hull's cargo.
The weapons found onboard the ship originate from Iran, and were intended to reach the Hezbollah terror organization for use against the State of Israel and its citizens. The weapons uncovered at sea last night constitute a harsh violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1747 and 1701 that strictly forbid Iran from exporting or trading any form of weapons.

President Shimon Peres said that, "Iran had promised it would not send weapons, and broke international law. The importance of the ship's capture is enormous and has political value as well. Therefore it is a political event and the seizure is a military accomplishment."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the weapons found on board the ship were intended to harm Israel's cities and towns. Moreover, he hailed the operation congratulating the army the navy, and other security agencies involved on the successful counterterrorist operation.

The Minister of Defense Ehud Barak praised the IDF for their outstanding effort in combating weapon smuggling. "This is another success in the struggle against attempts to smuggle weapons by terrorist organizations who threaten the security of Israel," he said.

The Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai told Army Radio this morning that "We must salute the intelligence community and the IDF for the operation. Rarely is the public aware of the successful operations undertaken." He added that the weapons were destined for Hezbollah and that Katyusha rockets were amongst the weapons in the vessel.

The IDF wishes to emphasize that, The Iranians continue to act deceptively while blatantly ignoring and violating both International Law and UN Security Council decisions. They relentlessly act under the guise and flags of different countries in order to arm and encourage extremist factions that strive to destabilize the Middle East and other regions.

Last nights operation was part of continuous overt and covert IDF operations on various fronts, both near and far intended to maintain Israels security by preventing arms smuggling.

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[Metrader]

on behalf of the Jewish people and all Israeli's, I would like to thank Iran, especially President Ahmadinejad for the very generous gift you gave us of 500Mts of Weapons and Missiles.

I know that we will find these weapons useful and perhaps we will return them to you one day...at a slightly faster speed than when we aquired them...

[Zile77]

Islam sucks, it's pure evil and needs to be eradicated forever! This really gives Israel an excuse to attack Iran now.

[mikebrown1648]

Israel is a liar state .To hide its brutalities it fabricates stories

[orvex]

The ship sailed off from Venezuela. Chavez is behind this. See: Chávez 'ahora exporta armas'. Israel capturó 500 toneladas in youtube.

[glasshour76]

Bad Israeli propaganda.

Why would Iran ship weapons to Hezbollah on a boat that has to cross heavily patrolled waters when they can simply be shipped on land through friendly countries.

[isbmsarzhil]

fcats !! yes obviously fact.

fact is Aggresion of Palastine.

fact is killing thousands of palastines.

fact is stealing.

fact is suck usa.

fact is raping woman from palastine.

fact is zionism.

fact is assume palastines r dog nto human.

fact !! obviously fact .

[shr444]

god ur so funny! youll do anything to say it not true! when there facts!

[isbmsarzhil]

@shr444 just edited the scene n add pics or accused to put kalasonicov !! yes it is posible for agressor zionist israeleli doesn't matter at anyway;

[shr444]

oh then all teh rockets the found and guns of kalashnikov is lie? lol

there pics! i saw it!

now u just trying to get out of israel! LOSER!

[isbmsarzhil]

wow what a comentttttttt....people of isreal would 've love it.

though bitter but sweet.......

[isbmsarzhil]

dear viewers....

these bags are only poly chip contened use to normally in plastic goods made industry.

look! how they make fool the world.

schupid.....