The MV Alaed, which is carrying helicopter gunships and air defence systems on board, will put to sea within days, military officials in Moscow were quoted as saying.
The vessel, sailing under the flag of the Caribbean island of Curacao, returned to Murmansk after its insurance cover was withdrawn at the behest of the Government. Russia said it feared that British forces would attempt to storm the ship, a step David Cameron is said to have contemplated.
Throwing down an unmistakable challenge to the Prime Minister, Moscow said the Alaed would sail again, this time under a Russian flag – meaning that any attempt to board it could trigger an international incident. It will also be accompanied by at least one other vessel, although not a military one.
Russia says the combat helicopters on board were ones that it had repaired and insists that it is only supplying Syria with weapons that can be used to defend itself from foreign aggression.
The efficiency of Russian-made air defence systems was potently displayed on Friday, when Syria shot down a Turkish fighter jet. The example could serve to deter the West from risking its own aircraft in a military intervention, analysts said.
Calls for international action have grown as the violence in Syria has worsened. Nearly 700 people were killed last week, according to pro-opposition human rights groups in Syria, making it one of the bloodiest since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began 15 months ago. More than 60 are said to have died on Sunday.
More than 150 government soldiers are thought to be among the dead. In a sign that morale in the armed forces is suffering, the Syrian opposition reported the defection of more than 30 soldiers after a rebel attack on an artillery battalion near the city of Aleppo. The defectors took their weapons with them, they said.
Last week, a pilot in the Syrian Air Force — considered the wing of the armed forces most loyal to Mr Assad — defected after flying his fighter jet to Jordan.
Re-flag of Alaed with the Russian tricolor instead of the stared blue-yellow of Curacao definitely raises the stakes of international one-upmanship. Undoubtedly the escort ship will have the latest in electronics and photography, with a live uplink to Moscow. Russia has been supplying equipment of all kinds to Syria for years. It is conceivable that the birds on Alead are repair jobs being returned. On the other hand, it is also conceivable they are new sales. No matter what the status of the choppers, they will definitely enhance the ability of Syria to continue murdering it's perceived opponents. It will be interesting to see how this latest support of the Assad regime will be accepted by the rest of the world.
I predict a complete backdown by Syria's opponents, although with much blustery political posturing. End result will be the ship will unload it's cargo in Syria with minimum interferance. Russia already has somewhat of a significant naval presence at port in Syria http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/europe/russian-warships-said-to-be-going-to-naval-base-in-syria.html?_r=1 although the makeup and strength is a matter of some tap-dancing by Russian sources. I suspect they will deploy "on scheduled exercises" when Alaed gets anywhere close.
Here is a picture of the Alaed while in Port in Russia, probably during being re-flagged:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9352852/Russian-arms-ship-to-make-second-attempt-to-deliver-helicopters-to-Syria.html