Official: Greece objected to arms shipment

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. military says it canceled the shipment of ammunition from the Greek port of Astakos to a U.S. stockpile in Israel after Greek officials voiced concern.

Geoff Morrell, a Pentagon spokesman, said the 325-container arms transport was canceled at the request of the Greek government. Israel can ask for permission to access to the stockpile.

"I think the Greek government has some issue with the offloading of some of that shipment in their country and we are finding alternative means of getting that entire shipment to its proper destination in Israel," Morrell said.

He added that the decision to replenish the weapons cache was made before the Gaza conflict erupted.

"I don't know if they had a security problem or a political problem or some other kind of problem. But for whatever reason, there was an objection raised at some level and so we will find an alternative means of flowing those munitions into Israel and to our U.S. stockpile that exists there, and has for decades now," Morrell said.