Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — Britain has forced the return of a Russian weapons ship
bound for Syria.

Officials said Britain’s Royal Navy tracked the voyage of a Russian
cargo ship laden with Mi-24 attack helicopters for the Syrian Air Force.

The officials said the London government succeeded in withdrawing insurance for the Russian-flagged MV Alaed while it was about 80 kilometers from the coast of Scotland.

“I’m pleased that the ship that was reported to be carrying arms to
Syria has now turned back, apparently toward Russia,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

In an address to the House of Commons on June 19, Hague said the
withdrawal of insurance by the London-based Standard Club was meant to discourage arms shipments to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. He said Britain would enforce a European Union arms embargo on Syria.

“We discourage anyone else from supplying arms to Syria,” Hague said.

Officials said Alaed contained at least three Mi-24 helicopters, the
primary air weapon of Assad in the war against Sunni rebels. They said the
Russian cargo ship was not stopped or threatened by the British Navy.

“There are exclusion clauses in our cover,” Standard Club said in a
statement, “and for anyone involved in improper or unlawful trade we can
cancel cover.”

The Russian Navy was said to be preparing to send three additional
warships to Syria. The U.S. Defense Department said the Russian ships would
leave for Syria over the next few days, probably for the port of Tartous.

“We don’t want to see the Assad regime get arms and ammunition or any
lethal support that they could use,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on
June 19.

  Bashar Assad, Britain’s Royal Navy, Mi-24 helicopters, Russian-flagged MV Alaed, Standard Club, UK turns back Russian ship reportedly delivering helicopters to Syria, William Hague