Israel releases alleged proof of linkage between Iran, intercepted ship

JERUSALEM, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel Wednesday shows paper and photos which are said to be proof of the linkage between Iran and a cargo ship carrying arms intercepted by Israeli navy last week.

"An examination of the munitions seized proves that the source of the arms was Iran. This is clear both from the shipping documents and the markings on the munitions themselves," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Israeli commandos intercepted the ship about 100 miles off the Israeli coast early this month.

Following what Israeli leaders hailed as "another success" in its efforts to cut arms supply for its enemies, the Jewish state swiftly staged a public relations campaign against Iran and what the Jewish state called Iran's proxies, including Syria and Hezbollah.

Both Iran and Hezbollah have denied Israel's accusations.

The Wednesday's statement alleged that the ship was en route via Syria to the Hezbollah in Lebanon, which "contained a consignment of 36 shipping containers with 500 tons of arms."

Along with the statement, IDF released the ship's manifest and labels on containers, which the army says showing that the cargo was being transported by an Iranian company.

The army also released some photos of arms alleged to be found in the ship, and said in the statement that "a total of about 9,000 mortar bombs of different types were seized, along with about 3,000 Katyusha artillery rockets, 3,000 recoilless gun shells, and20,000 grenades."

Israel has been on high alert in nearby waters for years out of arms-trafficking concerns.

Since the conclusion of its winter military operation against the Palestinian movement of Hamas, which Israel also sees as a proxy of Iran, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have beefed up routine and extensive patrols and reconnaissance in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.