Washington worked closely with Israel in intercepting a naval vessel containing arms allegedly bound for the Gaza Strip, according to the U.S. State Department."We were closely coordinated, our intelligence and military activities, with our Israeli counterparts, who ultimately chose to take the lead with this case," said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki.
The Israeli Navy intercepted and raised the ship, the Panamanian-flagged KLOS C, in the Red Sea between Sudanese and Eritrean territorial waters, which the Israeli military said was carrying dozens of advanced missiles from Iran bound for the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli military, the shipment included M-302 rockets, which have a range of 160 kilometers.
Psaki added that the U.S. will continue to "stand up to Iran's support for destabilizing activities in the region, in coordination with our partners and allies" as world powers and Iran negotiate a comprehensive accord over the Islamic Republics nuclear program.
Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement that governs Gaza, has denied any involvement. The group slammed Israel for making up excuses to justify the Israeli blockade.
Israel imposes a land and sea blockade on Gaza since 2006. Egypt blockades Gaza's southern border.
By The Journal of Turkish Weekly
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