Israelis Intercept Iranian Weapon Shipment Bound for Terrorist Groups in Gaza

The Israeli Defense Force reports that it has intercepted a shipment of weapons from Iran that was bound for Gaza:

Last night, following extensive preparations, and on the government’s authorization, the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Benjamin (Benny) Gantz, ordered the Israel Navy to intercept the KLOS-C, upon which the illicit arms were concealed in between commercial cargo.

IDF special naval forces boarded the vessel, in accordance with international law, and carried out a preliminary inspection of the cargo.

They discovered numerous advanced weapons during the inspection, including M-302 surface-to-surface missiles, which are capable of reaching any point in Israel, including major population centers Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. If Palestinian terrorist organizations had gotten their hands on these weapons, they would have been able to use them to threaten millions of Israeli civilians.

The Navy is currently sailing together with the cargo ship back to Israeli shores.

Video and more at the link. The interception comes just a day after President Barack Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and just a few days after Obama declared that the Palestinians “want peace” but Israeli settlements are getting in the way. In that interview, Obama warned that the US would not make the case for Israel to the international community if Israel did not go along with Palestinian demands. The interception also comes as Iranian ally Russia consolidates its positions after invading Crimea in neighboring Ukraine.