The "Abu Hassan", a small 50-foot fishing boat, was intercepted in international waters and towed back to the port of Haifa on Wednesday, the sources said.

A member of the Lebanon-based fundamentalist Shiite militia Hezbollah was arrested aboard the ship, as well as eight crew members, the sources added.

On January 3, 2002, Israel intercepted a 50-tonne shipment of Iranian weapons destined for the Palestinians in the Red Sea.

On May 7, 2001, the navy also intercepted a ship near Rosh Hanikra along the Israeli-Lebanese border that was carrying arms to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

WAR.WIRE