arms smuggling onboard the “victoria” · 2014. 1. 14. · for official use only strategic...

Strategic Division // Israel Defense Forces

18 March 2011

Arms Smuggling Onboard the

“VICTORIA”

| Unclassified For Official Use Only1

“VICTORIA”

What in the past was

a trickle has turned

into a flood...

Deputy Foreign MinisterDanny Ayalon

- On Iranian and Syrian illegal weapons smuggling in the Mediterranean arena

For Official Use Only Strategic Division // Israel Defense Forces

On 15 March 2011, with the consent of the captain, the Israel Navy intercepted a merchant ship and discovered a cache of illegal Iranian arms, transferred with the help of Syria, intended for the use of terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

The ship’s cargo contained sophisticated weapons that could render terrorist groups much more effective, endangering Israeli and international naval forces and commercial ships operating in the Mediterranean.

Iran and its ally Syria actively strive to arm terrorist groups in order to destabilize the

On 15 March 2011, with the consent of the captain, the Israel Navy intercepted a merchant ship and discovered a cache of illegal Iranian arms, transferred with the help of Syria, intended for the use of terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

The ship’s cargo contained sophisticated weapons that could render terrorist groups much more effective, endangering Israeli and international naval forces and commercial ships operating in the Mediterranean.

Iran and its ally Syria actively strive to arm terrorist groups in order to destabilize the

Focal Points


Iran and its ally Syria actively strive to arm terrorist groups in order to destabilize the region and promote their radical aims (inter alia attempts to hijack recent political unrest).

The Gaza Strip is controlled by the terrorist organization Hamas. It and other terrorist elements in the Gaza Strip illegally acquire weapons with the explicit intent to harm Israeli civilians. Rocket and mortar attacks are a part of everyday life in southern Israel.

This latest incident demonstrates the necessity of Israel’s policy of a naval blockade on the Gaza strip to prevent arms smuggling and is yet another indication of the need for a robust international effort to stop illegal weapons proliferation in the region.

Iran and its ally Syria actively strive to arm terrorist groups in order to destabilize the region and promote their radical aims (inter alia attempts to hijack recent political unrest).

The Gaza Strip is controlled by the terrorist organization Hamas. It and other terrorist elements in the Gaza Strip illegally acquire weapons with the explicit intent to harm Israeli civilians. Rocket and mortar attacks are a part of everyday life in southern Israel.

This latest incident demonstrates the necessity of Israel’s policy of a naval blockade on the Gaza strip to prevent arms smuggling and is yet another indication of the need for a robust international effort to stop illegal weapons proliferation in the region.


Details of the EventsOn the morning of15 March 2011 the Israel Navy intercepted the merchant ship “VICTORIA” 200nautical miles west of Israel. The vessel was owned by a German national, operated by the Frenchshipping company CMA CGM, and was flying the Liberian flag.

The vessel was en route to the Alexandria Port in Egypt after departing from Syria’s Lattakia Port on6 March and passing through Beirut and Mersin Port in Turkey.

Based on reasonable suspicion and due to the maritime route of the ship, which has in the pastbeen used for smuggling weapons, the Israel Navy requested to board and search the ship. Thecaptain gave his full consent and assured his complete cooperation.


captain gave his full consent and assured his complete cooperation.

Inspection revealed that three cargo containers, loaded at Lattakia Port, were filled with arms andammunition.

The ship’s captain agreed to be towed to Ashdod Port so that the vessel could undergo a more thorough inspection. The captain and crew were unaware of the presence of contraband onboard their ship.

The vessel arrived at Israel at midnight on 15 March and the crew members remained onboard forthe duration of the investigation. The “VICTORIA” docked at Ashdod Port until departing with hercrew for Alexandria Port midday on17 March.


“VICTORIA” Route

| Unclassified For Official Use Only


Iranian Involvement• The six anti-ship missiles found onboard the “VICTORIA” were NASR 1 missiles, as evidenced by a

preliminary weapons assessment

• The technology behind the NASR 1 anti-ship missile is based on the Chinese missile C-704. In March 2010,

China inaugurated a missile manufacturing plant in Iran for assembly of the NASR 1.

• The NASR 1 instruction manual found onboard the “VICTORIA” was written in Farsi.

• The Revolutionary Guard logo was stamped on an assortment of the ship’s cargo.


Above Left: NASR 1 missiles in a production plant in IranAbove Right: A NASR1 missile found onboard the “VICTORIA”Far Right: NASR 1 instruction manual onboard the “VICTORIA”


The Cargo

Type of WeaponQuantity

Nasr 1 (C-704) Anti-Ship Missiles6

Radar Systems2

Hydraulic Mounting Cranes for Radar Systems2

Launchers2

Mortar Shells, 120mm302


Mortar Shells, 120mm302

Mortar Shells, 60mm,270

7.62mm Ammunition for AK-47,66,960


The NASR 1 Missile

Range: 35km

Length: 3.28m

Diameter: 280mm

Weight: 360kg

C-704 Missile


Though Israel has intercepted larger quantities of weapons in the past, the sophistication and destructive capabilities of this missile makes the “VICTORIA” the most significant smuggling seizure to date.

Though Israel has intercepted larger quantities of weapons in the past, the sophistication and destructive capabilities of this missile makes the “VICTORIA” the most significant smuggling seizure to date.

Weight: 360kg

Speed: High Subsonic

Warhead Weight: 128 kg


Legal Aspects

IRANIAN VIOLATIONS SYRIAN VIOLATIONS

Iran and Syria continue to act in direct violation of international law and blatantly breach UN Security Council Resolutions; Syria as an accessory to smuggling arms to terrorist groups in Gaza; Iran by

transferring arms under any circumstances.

UN Security Council Resolution 1860 (8January 2009) called upon all MemberStates to prevent illicit trafficking in armsand ammunition to the Gaza Strip

UN Security Council Resolution 1747(24 March 2007) proscribes the transferof arms from Iran and calls upon Statesto prohibit the procurement of such


UN Security Council Resolution 1373(28 September 2001) called upon Statesto refrain from the provision of anyform of support to terroristorganizations and to eliminate thesupply of weapons to such groups

and ammunition to the Gaza Stripto prohibit the procurement of suchitems from Iran by their nationals, orusing their flag vessels or aircraft

UN Security Council Resolution 1747


Legal Aspects

[Countries] have the right to visit and search merchant vessels outside

neutral waters where there are reasonable grounds for suspicion…

[Countries] have the right to visit and search merchant vessels outside

neutral waters where there are reasonable grounds for suspicion…

San-Remo ManualIsrael had reasonable suspicion that the

“VICTORIA” was smuggling illegal weapons. The Israel Navy intercepted the vessel 200 miles off the coast of Israel in order to conduct a “visit and

search”

Israel had reasonable suspicion that the “VICTORIA” was smuggling illegal

weapons. The Israel Navy intercepted the vessel 200 miles off the coast of Israel in order to conduct a “visit and

search”

The “VICTORIA”

““

International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea


Neutral merchant vessels are subject to capture if they are…

carrying contraband

Neutral merchant vessels are subject to capture if they are…

carrying contraband

Capture of a neutral merchant vessel is exercised by taking such a vessel as prize for adjudication

Capture of a neutral merchant vessel is exercised by taking such a vessel as prize for adjudication

The ship, which was flying the Liberian flag, was carrying approx. 25 tons of

weapons

The ship, which was flying the Liberian flag, was carrying approx. 25 tons of

weapons

The Israel Navy escorted the ship to the Port of Ashdod where it unloaded the

illegal cargo. The “VICTORIA” sailed from Israel at 12:30 the following day

The Israel Navy escorted the ship to the Port of Ashdod where it unloaded the

illegal cargo. The “VICTORIA” sailed from Israel at 12:30 the following day

““


Recent Iranian Provocations

Contravening UN nuclear sanctions

Smuggling illegal arms and ammunition to Hamas, Hizbullah, etc.

Test launching ballistic missiles

Actively working to destabilize Iraq

Undermining regional states by encouraging political discord and

arming and financing non-state actors, inter alia attempting to hijack

Above: Iranian smuggling route


current political unrest in the Middle East

Engaging in belligerent rhetoric threatening the West and Israel

Warships participated in bilateral exercise with Syria; first example

of Iranian naval presence in Mediterranean sea since Islamist

Revolution of 1979

In recent days, a series of media reports have surfaced exposing

Iran’s smuggling efforts in East Asia (Singapore and South Korea) and

Turkey

Above: Iranian warship traversing the Suez Canal

Above: Nasrallah, Assad, Ahmadinejad


• Iran is steadily seeking to increase its presence in Africa.

– Senegal and Gambia have recently severed diplomatic ties with Iran following accusations of subversive Iranian arms sales to local rebels.

– Nigerian-Iranian relations have reached a point of crisis; in October and November 2010 Nigerian authorities accused Iran of smuggling weapons and drugs into the country.

– Iran continues to persevere in its efforts to increase ties with resource-rich African nations, and a recent IAEA report revealed Iran's intent to mine and purchase Zimbabwe's uranium for its nuclear program.

WEAPONS SMUGGLEDROUTEEVENTDATEGrenades, 106mm shells and 162mm shellsEgypt-SyriaFRANCOP""11/09

Examples of Iranian Weapons Transfers

| Unclassified For Official Use Only12Picture of somethingTHE "FRANCOP"THE "FRANCOP"THE "FRANCOP"

WEAPONS DISCOVERED ON THE KARINE AWEAPONS DISCOVERED ON THE KARINE AWEAPONS DISCOVERED ON THE KARINE A

Grenades, 106mm shells and 162mm shellsEgypt-SyriaFRANCOP""11/09

Ammunition, weapon-construction materialsIran-Egypt"HANSA INDIA"10/09

Artillery, mortar shells, weapon-construction material Iran-Egypt"MONCHEGORSK"01/09

Mortar shells, light arms, bullets, rocket launchersTurkeyIranian Train05/07

An airlift of weapons and suppliesIran-SyriaBam Airlift12/03

Rockets, anti-tank missiles, light armsIran-Egypt“KARINE A”12/01

arms smuggling onboard the “victoria” · 2014. 1. 14. · for official use only strategic...

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