The Israeli Navy today announced that, its commando units have intercepted, boarded and seized a cargo vessel, that was loaded with rockets and other arms and ammunition bound for Hizbollah. The interception of the cargo vessel was made in the Mediterranean Sea, based on credible intelligence, that the ship was carrying illegal contraband. The ship was hoisting an Antiguan flag was boarded near Cyprus and then escorted to the Ashdod harbor in southern Israel.

According to Shaul Mofaz (Former Defense Minister, Israel),

“As of now, what we know is that this was a smuggling attempt to arm Hezbollah with terrorist means against civilians. The intent was to send arms, mainly missiles and launchers, meant to strike civilian targets.”

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has stated that, all protocols were followed and no kind of force was required or used during the operation. The seizing of the vessel and is a part of the ongoing IDF efforts to curb international weapons smuggling. According to Ehud Barak (Defense Minster, Israel),

“The capture of the weapons is an additional success in the unending struggle against the attempts at arms smuggling and armament whose goal is to strengthen terror elements threatening the security of Israel.”

The vessel named, Franco St. Johns had been in the Israeli surveillance net since the time it left its home port and the boarding operations were carried out by the elite Shayetet 13 naval special forces unit. Shayetet 13 is considered to be the equivalent of America’s U.S Navy Seals navy special warfare unit.

Via New York Times.