Israel Navy Intercepts Iranian Weapons en route to Hezbollah
November 4, 2009 by Akiva
Filed under Maritime Security, Maritime Security News
On November 3, 2009, the Israeli Navy intercepted the 459 feet (140 meter) freighter Francop near Cyprus. According to Israeli officials, the Antiguan flag vessel as carrying hundreds of tons of arms sent by Iran destined for Syria and Hezbollah. Weapons found inside containers owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines Group (IRISL) included 122-millimeter rockets, 60-millimeter mortars, 7.62-rifle Kalashnikov-ammunition, F-1 grenades and 122-millimeter Katyusha rockets, and other weaponry. The recent interception marks a new Iranian arms smuggling record of ten times the size of the Karine A shipment in 2002.
