As the Russian Army spreads its forces Sunday in regime “sensitive positions” to confront Washington, Western diplomats told Asharq Al-Awsat that measures were taken in Damascus in anticipation of any US military strike.
One diplomat said that head of the Syrian regime Bashar Assad, who visited eastern Ghouta on Sunday, had met last Saturday with members of the National Security Bureau, headed by Ali Mamlouk, in the presence of military and security officials.
The Syrian officials decided to take a series of preventive measures in Damascus, including asking Russia and Iran for “protection,” although both countries already provide the regime with military, intelligence and economic support.
The measures stipulated spreading members from the Russian Army in main government headquarters, whether the executive authority or the Army, and to empty other positions in addition to mobilize units to some institutions.
Earlier, Moscow had announced that Russian armed forces would respond if the lives of Russian servicemen in Syria were threatened, including in the event of a US missile strike.
The UN and Western diplomatic missions also took measures concerning the deployment of their employees in Damascus.
Meanwhile, a Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) official told Asharq Al-Awsat that his forces would be transformed into “guerillas” against the Turkish Army and their Syrian rebel allies after Ankara swept into the northwestern Syrian town of Afrin on Sunday, declaring full control after an eight-week campaign to drive out YPG forces.
Othman Sheikh Issa, co-chair of the Afrin executive council, said in a televised statement that his forces would strike the positions of the Turkish enemy and its mercenaries at every opportunity.
“Our forces all over Afrin will become a constant nightmare for them,” he said.
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Afrin city center was now under the control of Turkish forces.
