On Nov. 4, the Israeli military reported the capture of a ship loaded
with Iranian weapons and heading for Lebanon or Syria, Middle East Newsline reported. The military said the
ship, Francop, was loaded with up to 500 tons of missiles and other weapons
and
bound for Hizbullah.
In all, 3,000 rockets and missiles were aboard. The Cypriot-owned ship
was released by Nov. 5.
"The weapons found onboard the ship originate from Iran, and were
intended to reach the Hizbullah terror organization for use against the
state of Israel and its citizens," the military said in a statement. "Dozens
of shipping containers found on the ship were carrying numerous weapons and
ordnance disguised as civilian cargo among hundreds of other containers
onboard."
Officials said this was the largest weapons cache ever captured by
Israel. Previous weapons shipments to Hizbullah and Palestinian insurgents
were reported at no more than 50 tons.
"The situation is becoming more and more complex because the weapons
they [Hizbullah] are acquiring are more and more dangerous to civilian
targets in Israel," former Israeli ambassador Eli Shaked said.
This marked the third seizure of an Iranian weapons ship to Hizbullah in
2009. In October, the Hansa India, flying a German flag, was intercepted on
its way to Malta and found to contain munitions and material for the
production of weapons. Officials said the ship had been destined for Syria.
In January, another Iranian weapons shipment was intercepted in Cyprus.
The ship, leased by an Iranian state-owned company, contained main battle
tanks, artillery and mortars as well as material meant for rocket
production. Officials said that ship was also bound for Syria.
In the latest seizure, the Israeli military said it had found an Iranian
document that showed that the cargo originated from Iran. Officials said the
ship's crew reported that the weapons -- including 106 mm, 107 mm, 122 mm
rockets and artillery -- were picked up in Egypt.
"It's a cargo certificate that shows that it was from a port in Iran,"
military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich said. "All the cargo
certificates are stamped at the ports of origin, and this one was stamped at
an Iranian port."
Officials said Iran was sending weapons to Hizbullah through a range of
means and routes. They said Iran has directed Syria to relay much of its
weaponry for the rearmament of Hizbullah.
"This [weapons ship] was a drop in the ocean," Israel Navy deputy
commander Rear Adm. Roni Ben Yehuda said.