Israeli naval commandoes acting on firm intelligence Tuesday night stormed a cargo ship off the coast of Cyprus and found a large cache of Iranian weapons destined for Hizballah and Syria.

The Israelis faced no resistance after boarding the vessel, which they then sailed back to the Israeli port of Ashdod for unloading and inspection.

Military officials said the weapons, which included advanced arms such as guided missiles, were hidden behind civilian cargo. The ship's crew also tried to disguise their true mission by flying an Antiguan flag.

Though the action took place far outside Israel's territorial waters, Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the operation as yet another necessary and successful step in combating terrorist efforts to destabilize the region.