The Alead, a Russian transport ship, may try again to carry weapons – including attack helicopters – to Syria, according to the London Telegraph . . . the ship had to turn back near Scotland on June 18 after the United States and the UK put pressure on its insurer . . . it will soon dock in St Petersburg and then will reportedly set sail for Russia’s far east . . . the ship previously sailed under a Curacao flag but has been reflagged as a Russian ship . . . on July 11, a Russian defense official said that Russia may dispatch its navy to ensure Russian merchant ships can travel to Syria . . . Russian officials have insisted that they will still deliver the attack helicopters to Syria and this is likely the Alead’s true destination . . . by reflagging the ship, the West cannot appeal to the Netherlands to have it stopped or boarded . . . this incident points to how Russia’s position on Syria and its support for President Assad are hardening.