U.S. sends naval force to intercept Hamas weapons

An American naval task force has been ordered to locate and intercept Iranian ships carrying weapons to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the British newspaper The Times reported yesterday.

American diplomats told the paper that the naval force, which was originally stationed in the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy, has orders to stop any suspect Iranian ship en route to the Red Sea.

Last week, the American television network CBS reported that an American naval ship has already stopped one Iranian vessel that was carrying weapons to Gaza. The American sailors boarded the vessel in the Gulf of Aden and discovered several containers marked "hazardous material." They then contacted the Egyptian authorities and asked them to demand that the Iranian ship anchor at an Egyptian port for a comprehensive inspection as a condition for being granted passage through the Suez Canal.

Over the last few weeks, several Iranian warships have entered the Gulf of Aden, for the declared purpose of helping to defend cargo and passenger ships against Somali pirate attacks. However, Israel claims that this is a cover meant to help expedite Iranian arms shipments to Hamas.