Lebanese army intercepted three containers of weapons and ammunitions on the way for Syria 2904122.

The Lebanese army has seized a large consignment of Libyan weapons from a ship intercepted in the Mediterranean. It didn’t say where the vessel was heading. But the ship’s owner says it was due to unload in the north Lebanese port city of Tripoli.

The vessel was forced to dock at the port of Selaata, south of Beirut. It was suspected of carrying weapons headed for Syria. After the inspection, members of the crew were placed under arrest.

The army said in a statement that the weapons were found in three containers on the Sierra Leone-flagged ship Letfallah II. It was impounded along with its 11-man crew.

Pictures released by the army showed dozens of crates inside the containers, some of them filled with belts of heavy ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades. Labelling on one box said it contained fragmentation explosives, and several identified as coming from Libya.

Ship owner Mohammad Khafaji said he was told the craft was carrying engine oil, and was unaware of any weapons.

Khafaji said a broker from Lebanon had made contact, asking originally for a shipment of 12 containers of "general cargo" to be shipped from Libya to Lebanon. In the end, he added after two days’ delay, the ship left with just the three containers.

Russia accused Libya in March of arming and training Syrian rebels. Libya’s Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib said he was unaware of training camps in his country. But he repeated Libya’s strong support for Syrians "who are raising their voice asking for freedom".

Syrian authorities have repeatedly said weapons are being smuggled from neighboring countries, including Lebanon, to arm rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad.