War, anyone? Kenny S. tells me, "Ship is German owned and French operated" -- seems like old times. Oo la la, mein herr.
Israel Intercepts Ship Laden with Gaza-Bound Weapons CNN (hat tip JCPA)
Israeli commandos intercepted a ship in the Mediterranean Sea Tuesday carrying weapons bound for Gaza militants, the Israel Defense Forces said. The cargo vessel "Victoria" was stopped about 200 miles west of Israel's coast. The ship initially departed from Latakia in Syria, proceeded to Mersin in Turkey, and then headed for Egypt. The crew didn't resist and the vessel was brought to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection. (CNN)
See also Israel Seizes Boat Carrying Arms for Hamas (Ha'aretz)
See also Israel's Interception of Arms Ships
Since 2001, there have been repeated attempts to smuggle weapons under the guise of legitimate commerce. (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)This afternoon, the IDF announced that the Victoria, a German owned, French operated and Liberian flagged vessel, was apprehended 200 miles off the Israeli coast by the IDF Navy. It was carrying arms from the port of Latakia in Syria to Alexandria in Egypt via Turkey. (INN)
UPDATE: Kenny S. continues in the comments:
Israel National News is where I got the ownership info...... and also the only news service in Israel I actually trust for consistency and balance.
This afternoon, the IDF announced that the Victoria, a German owned, French operated and Liberian flagged vessel, was apprehended 200 miles off the Israeli coast by the IDF Navy.
The commando unit “13,” the same company that confronted the IHH terrorist Mavi Marmara ship last May 31, boarded the Victory ship Tuesday, located the illegal weapons and escorted the ship to the port of Ashdod.
According to the ship's document, and the account of the crew, the ship initially departed from Latakia port in Syria, and then proceeded to the Port of Mersin in Turkey before sailing towards its destination in Egypt, from which the weapons were to be smuggled through tunnels to Gaza.
The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the shipment of the weapons “constitutes a blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860(2009), which calls upon member states to intensify efforts to ‘prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition’ to…Gaza.” Syria denied any knowledge of the weapons shipment
The government said the transfer of the weapons also violates "U.N. Security Council Resolution 1373, which calls upon all states to refrain from the provision of any form of support to terrorist organizations and to eliminate the supply of weapons to such groups.”
The Foreign Ministry pointed out that Israeli navy soldiers boarded the Victory in self-defense because “the illegal smuggling of arms to the Gaza Strip poses a direct and imminent threat to the safety and security of the State of Israel and its citizens, who continue to find themselves under the unceasing attack of rocket and mortar fire originating from Gaza.”
The freight manifest of the Victoria camouflaged the true nature of the content of the ship's containers, in violation of the relevant provisions of the International Maritime Organization's Conventions and professional standards, the government added.
