Syria: Russia sends back ship loaded with helicopters The MV Alaed had been sailing under the flag of Curacao in the Dutch Antilles. In theory, Britain could have boarded the vessel by obtaining permission from the Dutch government. Once the ship is sailing under Russian colours, however, the Kremlin believes that no such operation will attempted. The United Nations has not imposed an arms embargo on Syria, so the delivery would be legal under international law. But there is a European Union embargo - and British officials are understood to be willing to use this measure to stop any vessel carrying weapons to Syria that passes through UK territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles from the coast. While Russia tries to arm Mr Assad, the CIA is understood to have taken a more hands-on role in the rebel campaign against the Syrian regime. America has not supplied weapons itself, but US intelligence officers are believed to be identifying suitable opposition groups to receive arms from regional allies. CIA operatives in southern Turkey are helping to coordinate the delivery of automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank weapons, paid for by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The aim is to ensure that weapons do not fall into the hands of fighters allied with al-Qaeda, a senior American official told the New York Times. Washington has resisted calls directly to arm the rebels, but has provided non-lethal supplies. The CIA and the State Department have also helped opposition fighters to develop logistics routes to move supplies into Syria. Turkey has begun to loosen restrictions on the quality and quantity of weapons being sent to the rebels through its territory. "The Turks are gradually allowing more powerful weapons into Syria," said a Middle Eastern official. Turkey is concerned about possible Syrian retaliation, fearing that Mr Assad could help Kurdish rebels from the PKK. A Western official in Washington said that assurances had been given that Turkey would not be "hung out to dry" if Syria were to strike back. America is believed to have escalated its contacts with the rebel Free Syrian Army in March, partly because of the presence of extremist groups in Syria. Islamist militants are believed to have entered Syria to wage a parallel war against the Assad regime. As an Alawite Shia, Mr Assad is viewed as a heretic by the Sunni extremists of al-Qaeda.