Video: IDF soldiers board Klos-C weapons ship
Wednesday morning, the IDF intercepted an Iranian shipment of rockets to terrorist organizations in Gaza 160 kilometers off the coast of Sudan.
Israel Navy forces identified the target, and upon arrival requested to board. With the full consent of the crew, the IDF soldiers opened a number of containers on board the ship. They discovered a substantial amount of weapons hidden behind bags of cement.
Let's go to the videotape.
So how did they get the full consent of the crew. Apparently, the captain realized
he didn't have a choice.
As for the timing and location of the operation, the officer said
that various factors were taken into account, including the height of
the waves, “We were concerned that the ship's crew would think that we
were pirates, and that is why we identified ourselves from the outset as
the IDF, and when the captain looked right and left, he saw two Navy
missile ships, including additional vessels – and it was a show of force
he could not resist, and therefore the boarding of the ship was quiet.”
The officer said that the Turkish captain and the rest of the crew did not know that there were weapons on board.
Rumor has it that this is what the captain said when he was captured.
Let's go to the videotape.
Labels: Gaza, Gulf of Aden, Israel Navy, Sudan, weapons shipment
Israel sought to avoid confrontation with Iran over weapons ship
Reports indicate that the location chosen for the
interception of an Iranian weapons shipment to Gaza was chosen in order to avoid a
direct confrontation between Israel's Navy and Iran's.
The operation was performed very close to the ship’s destination,
possibly, in order to avoid potential confrontation with Iranian naval
forces operating in the area. In previous occasions Israeli forces have
struck missile convoys in Sudan, on their long journey north through
Egypt to Sinai. The Iranian Navy is routinely operates in the Gulf of
Aden, Bab-el Mandeb and the southern part of the Red Sea, where the
Iranian Navy’s 29th Fleet recently thwarted two piracy
attacks on an Iranian oil tanker sailing at the Red Sea. Last month,
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that
his naval forces have foiled tens of attacks by international pirates on
the country’s cargo ships and oil tankers. He noted that the Iranian
Navy warships have escorted some 2,000 merchant vessels and freighters in the same period.
According
to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their
warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the
pirates. Linking the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the
Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Aden is an important energy corridor for
tankers transporting oil from the Persian Gulf to the West, via the Suez
Canal.
Hmmm. And they wonder why we don't just let them ship whatever they want into Gaza....
Labels: Gaza, Gulf of Aden, Iranian warships, Israel Navy, Sudan, weapons shipment
Iran to deploy submarine and warship in Gulf of Aden and Red Sea
Iran is planning to deploy its 15th fleet, consisting of a
submarine and a warship, in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea (see map).
Iran is planning to send its 15th fleet, comprised of a submarine and a warship, to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, semi-official news agency Press TV quoted Iranian naval commander Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as saying on Tuesday.
The announcement came after the IDF modified the operational doctrine of the Navy Command Center in Eilat which is responsible for protecting southern Israel from threats originating in the Red Sea. On Monday, two large Navy corvettes were seen docked in Eilat, likely for anti-terror and smuggling operations in the Red Sea.
Sayari stated that the purpose of the Iranian deployment is to patrol in the high seas and display the great capabilities of the Islamic Republic. He added that the fleet would combat pirates as well.
The Iranian naval commander said that Iran's presence in the Red Sea would tighten security for all countries.
“The presence of Iran's Army in the high seas will convey the message of peace and friendship to all countries,” he said.
Of course, the Iranians don't consider the 'Zionist entity' a country, but one has to wonder how 'our friends the Saudis' feel about this. They're probably not too thrilled, but I doubt that they would openly cooperate with Israel even on this. Hmmm.
Labels: Gulf of Aden, Gulf states, Iranian nuclear threat, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
