| ABC News | - |
Israeli
naval forces raided a ship in the Red Sea early Wednesday, capturing a
shipment of dozens of advanced rockets from Iran destined to Palestinian
militants in Gaza that would have given them greater reach to strike
much of Israel, the military said.
Israeli Naval Raid Nabs Gaza-Bound Arms From Iran
Israeli naval forces raided a ship in the Red Sea early Wednesday,
capturing a shipment of dozens of advanced rockets from Iran destined to
Palestinian militants in Gaza that would have given them greater reach
to strike much of Israel, the military said.
The M-302 rockets were on route in an elaborate smuggling operation
orchestrated by Iran, the military said. Manufactured in Syria, the
rockets were flown to Iran, then shipped from its Bandar Abbas port to
Iraq to cover their tracks and loaded onto the civilian cargo ship
destined for Sudan. From there, they were to be smuggled overland
through Egypt to the Gaza Strip, military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter
Lerner told reporters.
Israel forces intercepted the ship, the KLOS C, in international waters
off the shores of Sudan and Eritrea, 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from
Eilat, Israel's southernmost point and only Red Sea port, Lerner said.
The M-302 rockets have a range of up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) and
would have significantly improved the capabilities of Gaza militants,
putting nearly all of Israel in their range, he said. Previously, Gaza
militants have only been able to reach about 50 miles (80 kilometers)
into Israel with their homegrown M-75 missiles. The Lebanese militant
group Hezbollah used M-302s in a 2006 war against Israel, the military
said.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, close to the country's elite
Revolutionary Guard force, denied the Israeli claim, calling it "mere
lies." There was no immediate comment from Hamas, the militant group
that ruled Gaza.
Abu Attaya, a spokesman for the smaller Popular Resistance Committees,
said the Israel raid was a pretext "to prepare the public opinion for
new wave of aggression planned against Gaza."
Israel says Iran and militants have used a similar route in the past. It
was not clear how militants would have smuggled the weapons into Gaza,
given the naval blockade imposed on it and the current Egyptian
leadership's hostility toward Hamas and its blocking of major smuggling
tunnels. Lerner insisted however that Gaza was the destination, saying
the operation — codenamed "Full Disclosure" came after months of
intelligence gathering.
The 17-member crew of the Panamanian-flagged vessel cooperated with the
Israeli forces, Lerner said, adding they were not suspects and were
probably unaware of the content of their cargo. The vessel was being
brought to Eilat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting the U.S. this
week, held a series of talks with Israeli defense officials ahead of
the ship's takeover. He took the opportunity Wednesday to warn world
powers about the consequences of a nuclear Iran. Netanyahu has been a
harsh critic of world powers' negotiations with Tehran, saying the
international community has given it too much relief from sanctions
while getting few concessions in return. Netanyahu believes Iran is
trying to build a nuclear bomb — a charge Tehran denies.
"At a time when it talks with the world powers, at a time when Iran is
smiling and saying all sorts of pleasantries, that same Iran is sending
lethal weapons to terror organizations and it is doing it with an
elaborate network of covert global operations with the aim of streaming
rockets, missiles and other lethal weapons to harm innocent civilians.
This is the real Iran and that country must not be able to have a
nuclear weapon," he said.
Video released by the military showed Israeli soldiers on the ship
inspecting the rockets, shipped in large crates. The video also showed
beige bags containing cement with the words "Made in I.R. Iran," in
English, written on them.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said the weapons headed for Gaza were "strategically important."
"Iran trains, funds and arms terror groups in the region and around the
world and its failed attempts to transfer the arms that were discovered
this morning is more proof of that," he said.
Gaza is ruled by Hamas, an Islamic militant group that already possesses
thousands of rockets. A number of smaller groups, including the
Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaida-inspired groups also possess
rockets. All have engaged in frequent rocket fire toward communities in
southern Israel. The military did not specify to which group the latest
shipment was believed to be destined.
Israel accuses Iran of supplying rockets and other arms to its foes —
militants in Gaza and Lebanon's Hezbollah — and it has moved to
intercept weapons shipments in the past.
Three years ago, Israel seized the cargo ship Victoria loaded with
weapons allegedly sent by Iran to Gaza militants, including land-to-sea
missiles.
In November 2009, Israel took over the Iranian Francop vessel off the
coast of Cyprus and captured hundreds of tons of rockets, missiles,
mortars, grenades and anti-tank weapons on board that it said were
headed to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.
Israel is also suspected of carrying out airstrikes in Sudan on arms
shipments believed to be bound for Gaza. Israel has never confirmed
carrying out the strikes.
In January 2002, Israeli forces stormed the Karine A freighter on the
Red Sea, and confiscated what the military said was 50 tons of missiles,
mortars, rifles and ammunition headed for Palestinian militants in the
Gaza Strip.
In May 2001, Israel captured the vessel Santorini off its coastline,
packed with explosives Israel said were being sent from Hezbollah to
Palestinian militant groups.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said Israeli troops boarded the ship in
accordance with international law and with the consent of the crew and
the relevant authorities. It said the ship was operated by a company
registered in the Marshall Islands.
It added that Israel will lodge a formal complaint with the United
Nations' Security Council and with a sanctions committee established
under Security Council resolution 1737.
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