A Russian ship has been stopped by the British government off the Scottish coast over fears that it is carrying helicopters and missiles to Syria – as Russia announced it was sending troops to the region.

The ship was proceeding southwest at a speed of 12 knots and was some 40 miles off the Scottish port of Thurso at 9 a.m. ET Monday. The data showed that it left Kaliningrad 10 days ago with a final destination of Vladivostok on July 24, CNN reported.

The decision to halt the liner followed an intervention from the Government, who warned the ship’s insurers that covering the vessel could breach an EU arms embargo. British marine insurer Standard Club has withdrawn cover from the fleet of Russian company Femco who own the ship, The Daily Mail reported.

Under EU sanctions, countries are banned from exporting arms to Syria and providing other services including insurance.

Tensions between Moscow and Washington that were already running high over Russia’s continuing support for President Bashar al-Assad’s embattled regime.

Russia said on Tuesday, June 19, it was preparing to send marines to Syria in case it needed to protect its personnel and remove equipment from its giant naval base in the Mediterranean port of Tartous. «We won’t abandon the Russians and will evacuate them from the conflict zone if necessary,» said Major General Vladimir Gradusov.

But some western analysts saw the planned deployment as a clear signal to the U.S. and its western allies that Moscow would not tolerate any foreign military intervention to end the bloody 15-month crackdown on rebel forces in Syria.

As already reported, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accuses the Russian government of supplying attack helicopters to the Syrian government. French Foreign Affairs Minister supported Clinton. «The problem does not lie within the fact that someone once sold arms, the problem lies within the fact that arms are being sold to both sides in Syria. As for Russia, we have heard its official statements, but there is both direct and indirect proof that the arms are being supplied,»- claims French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius.

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