http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-weapons-on-seized-ship-came-from-iran-through-syria-1.349358 Netanyahu: Weapons on seized ship came from Iran through Syria Israel navy seized ship which IDF said contained 'tons' of concealed weapons destined for 'use of terror organization operating in Gaza Strip.' By Barak Ravid and Anshel Pfeffer Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the weapons seized from a ship earlier in the day were from Iran. "We are currently collecting information and the one thing that is certain is that the weapons are from Iran with a relay station in Syria," Netanyahu said. Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli navy seized a ship that was smuggling weapons allegedly destined for terror groups in the Gaza Strip. "Last night, I granted permission to take over a ship for which we had the basis to think that there were weapons on it destined for Gaza," Netanyahu said. "The source of the weapons is Iran, which continues to try to arm terrorist forces against Israel." "It is our right and duty to stop the smuggling of these weapons," the prime minister said, adding that all nations connected to the ship had been updated on the situation. The Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Unit said that the ship "Victoria" originated from the Lattakia port in Syria and sailed to Mersin, Turkey. It was seized while on its way from Turkey destined for the El-Arish port in Egypt. Turkey is not responsible for the seized ship "in any aspect," the IDF said. Elite troops from the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit took control of the ship without a struggle when it was around 200 nautical miles off Israel's coast and towed it to the port in Ashdod. According to the IDF Spokesman Unit, the ship was carrying "tons" of concealed weapons destined for "the use of terror organizations operating in the Gaza Strip." The IDF said that once the ship is anchored in Ashdod, its contents will be thoroughly examined and its crew will be taken in for questioning. Although the ship had set sail from Turkey, it bore a Liberian flag. A joint statement from the IDF and Foreign Ministry said that German officials have been alerted of the ship's seizure, as the ship belonged to a German company. Liberian officials have also been alerted due to the Liberian flag on the ship. The operating company of the ship was from France, and thus French officials were also made aware of the situation. This is not the first time that Israel has seized a ship carrying concealed weapons. The most famous incident was in 2003, when the Israeli military seized the Karine A, a vessel with 50 tons of missiles, mortars, rifles and ammunition headed for Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. --------------------------------------------------- Way to stir the nest even more Iran following the recent murders...
They should follow it up with an anouncement that Iran should or will be wiped from the face of the earth......Jehovah willing. I like a good mudslinging contest. I say get it on!
You want drama? Take this one.... Why don't they just send weapons to Palestine just like the United States sends it to Israel (i.e. not secretively)? .....BOOM! D&D - We know drama....
Updates as they come... http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-navy-gaza-bound-anti-ship-missiles-found-on-seized-ship-1.349410 Israel Navy: Gaza-bound anti-ship missiles found on seized ship Navy deputy commander says the anti-ship missiles were smuggled from Iran to terrorist organizations in Gaza, warns missiles could have been used to strike both IDF and civilian ships off Gaza coast. By Amos Harel Israel Navy forces found several anti-ship missiles on board the "Victoria" ship, which was believed to be smuggling weapons from Iran to militants in Gaza and was seized by IDF forces earlier Tuesday. "The Israel Navy operation prevented the smuggling of weapons which had strategic importance to the Gaza Strip," Israel Navy Deputy Commander Rani Ben-Yehuda said Tuesday. According to him, if the weapons were to reach terrorist organizations, they could have used the anti-ship missiles to strike Israel Navy ships as well as civilian ships in the Ashdod port. Ben-Yehuda said that thus far IDF forces located two Chinese-made C-704 missiles with a range of 35 kilometers, noting the IDF believes that two more were hidden on the ship.The IDF estimates that the weapons and ammunition found on board the ship could reach 50 tons. He said that weapons were smuggled from Iran to Syria where the ship collected them on its way to Turkey and then sailed to Egypt. Ben-Yehuda also presented a Farsi-language manual for the missiles found among the ship cargo. He stressed that he is convinced that neither Turkey nor Egypt knew what was hidden on the ship. Elite troops from the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit took control of the "Victoria" ship earlier Tuesday without a struggle when it was around 200 nautical miles off Israel's coast, and towed it to the port in Ashdod. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Anti-ship missiles...
Why not declare what's really going on. War by proxy. Just face off and get it done with? Quit jabbing and start throwing haymakers!
Iran supports Palestinans and not Israel? Iran and other middle eastern countries are providing weapons to Palestinans? WOAH! Stop the presses!
It's called intelligence. Why would you expect Israel to reveal how they found out? Don't hold your breath.
To make sure this isn't some propaganda against Iran so they could start a war against them, and drag us into it. I don't know. Propaganda is a B. Can't let the whole WMD thing happen over again.
Iran isn't exactly covert about their disdain for Israel. They also played a big support role in the Lebanon War.
+1 Also, saying they came from Iran is a lot different than if they came from a terrorist group located within Iran. Not making apologies/excuses for Iran, I'd just like to have a bigger idea of the story before believing everything an Israeli newspaper tells me.
