GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip?Israeli missiles slammed into a Palestinian naval base Saturday and divers blew a large hole into a vessel docked there, in the latest reprisal for a weapons-smuggling operation and a deadly assault on Israeli troops.

The Israeli military said the base was targeted because Palestinian naval police officers were involved in the smuggling and the attack on the soldiers.

In the West Bank town of Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority announced it has detained two senior Palestinian officials for questioning in the smuggling affair. The announcement was welcomed by U.S. officials, but greeted with skepticism by Israel.

Last week, Israel intercepted a freighter carrying 50 tons of Iranian-made weapons which the Palestinian captain said were destined for the Gaza Strip.

Israel has said the Palestinian Authority and Yasser Arafat were behind the shipment of arms.