Whenitfinallystopped, the VellaGulfandanotherU. S.shipmoved in andsent a boarding party to thepirates' boat, wheretheyfoundweaponsincludinga rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
Israel's interception of the Francop came a week after Yemeni forces seized an Iranian ship transporting armor-piercing weapons to Houthi Shi'ite rebels in northern Yemen.