Arms ship seized

JERUSALEM, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Israeli authorities announced the seizure of a ship they said was carrying weaponry, including missiles, to Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.

Israel alleged the weapons originated in Iran. Israeli forces stopped a ship near Cyprus and towed it to Israel where they displayed a cargo of about 3,000 missiles along with anti-tank weapons, grenades and mortars. They said it totaled hundreds of tons of materiel, making it the largest such confiscation by Israel.

Cargo containers on the ship allegedly showed signs and logos of Iranian agencies.

Israel said the ship left Iran and was headed to Syria where the cargo would be given to Hezbollah militants.

Israel alleged Hamas tested a rocket from Iran that has a much greater range -- enough to threaten main Israeli centers of population -- than what Hamas has previously fired.

The weapons issue becomes part of the complicated calculus for Israeli leaders, who are said to be considering a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel is among the countries that say Iran's nuclear program is aimed at the development of nuclear weapons.