Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Egyptians Refuse Entry of Iranian Arms-Laden Ship Headed To Gaza


So, here we have an Iranian ship loaded to the gills with long range grad rockets and explosives heading towards Gaza and the Egyptians finally got their heads out of their asses and stopped the ship in the Red Sea from passing through the Suez Canal to get to the Mediterranean Sea where that ship could make it to Gaza.
Some fascinating looks at just how Hamas gets their weaponry delivered to them from Iran, here at this article at The Jerusalem Post:


Israel is closely tracking an Iranian freighter believed to be carrying weaponry for Hamas that is currently docked in the Red Sea outside the Suez Canal, after Egypt refused to permit it to cross the waterway to the Mediterranean.

"There are two main smuggling routes," one official explained. "Some of the weaponry comes by ground from Somalia, Sudan and then into Egypt and through a tunnel into Gaza, while some comes by boat."
The boats sometimes unload the shipments in the Sinai's Port Said, where it is smuggled into Gaza by land. Other times, the shipments are dropped overboard in waterproof containers and are picked up by Palestinian fishermen or divers.
At this point in time, I would say it is pretty likely that Israel has eyes all over this ship so even if the Iranians try to dump this cargo or drop it in another location, Israel is gonna see it...at the same time, one has to wonder if there isn't more going on with this ship serving as a decoy.

We have seen the results of the newer long range Grad rockets being used by Hamas in Gaza....how they have hit places in Israel never before reached and so you KNOW that the Iranians are hellbent on getting more of these to Hamas. I don't know...I guesss if I am running the Israeli navy, I'd be damn tempted to just blow this ship outta the water where it is sitting right now. I'd deal with the complaints later.


Cairo intercepts Iranian arms ship

According to a report received at the Defense Ministry from the Pentagon, the US Navy recently boarded an Iranian vessel that was carrying artillery shells and other weaponry.
"This is a big test for the Egyptians," a senior defense official said. "So far the Egyptians have prevented the ship from crossing the Suez and we hope it will stay that way."
Defense officials said that Iran is trying to supply Hamas with new Grad-model Katyusha rockets and to replace high-grade explosives that were exhausted or destroyed by the IDF during Operation Cast Lead.
"There are two main smuggling routes," one official explained. "Some of the weaponry comes by ground from Somalia, Sudan and then into Egypt and through a tunnel into Gaza, while some comes by boat."
The boats sometimes unload the shipments in the Sinai's Port Said, where it is smuggled into Gaza by land. Other times, the shipments are dropped overboard in waterproof containers and are picked up by Palestinian fishermen or divers.

As reported in The Jerusalem Post last week, the IDF is concerned that Iran will supply Hamas with long-range Fajr missiles that are capable of reaching Tel Aviv.
According to the London Times, Combined Task Force 151 of the US Navy, which is fighting pirates in the Gulf of Aden, has been instructed to track Iranian arms shipments to Gaza.
Last week, the report claimed, troops from the USS San Antonio boarded a former Russian cargo vessel that was flying a Cypriot flag and was reportedly carrying weaponry destined for Hamas.
In addition to the US, the French have also dispatched a frigate to the Mediterranean to participate in the clampdown on the Gaza Strip and to prevent weapons shipments from reaching Hamas.
The frigate is carrying a helicopter that can support reconnaissance missions off the Gaza coast.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Makes me wonder how many ships actually made it through before.

I'm assuming quite a few.

Holger Awakens said...

Michele,

Good point. I think it's obvious that a number have gotten through with the recent use of the Grad rockets by Hamas - the Qassam rockets are crudely built inside of Gaza but those Grad rockets came from Iran and now, if the new Fajr rockets make it through, Israel will have its biggest threat ever from the south.

:Holger Danske

Anonymous said...

what is the US Navy not doing?

shame.