JERUSALEM — Israel’s navy has detained a ship carrying a large cache of arms.

Soldiers boarded the freighter ship, flying the flag of Antigua, on November 3 and discovered the arms and ammunition, disguised as commercial freight, according to the IDF spokespersons office.

The ship, named the Francop, was stopped by a special naval force about 100 kilometres off the coast of Israel.

The ship was then taken to the port of Ashdod for further investigation.

The ship was en route from Iran to Syria, according to reports. It carried more than 60 tons of weapons. including Katyusha rockets, assault rifles, grenades, and mortar shells, as well as an advanced anti-aircraft platform.

“The seizure of the ship was carried out as part of the navy’s ongoing intensive fight against terrorism and the prevention of weapons smuggling,” a statement from the IDF said.

JTA