Israeli security forces late today released a ship believed to have been carrying weapons from Iran to Hezbollah, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported. Israel seized the ship earlier this week in Mediterranean waters.
The "Francop" ship was captured in the Mediterranean Sea by Israel navy missile boats late Tuesday night in an operation dubbed "Operation Four Species."
According to the Israeli military, the officers found roughly 60 tons of weapons, including 3,000 missiles, anti-tank mines and hand grenades. The vessel was towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
The Israeli government announced that the cargo ship was carrying Iranian arms to Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas to fight Israel. However, the Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers refuted these accusations during a joint press conference in Tehran.
Today, Hamas and Hezbollah representatives also denied any link to the arms. It is assumed that the cargo ship will be towed to Egypt.
The ship was set to continue to Turkey and then to Egypt.