Syrian regime, allies brace for possible US attack

By Mohamed Misto and Levent Tok

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Syrian regime and Iran-backed foreign terrorists have begun evacuating military sites in Damascus and Homs in advance of a possible U.S. military assault, Anadolu Agency correspondents based in the area reported Thursday.

Iran-backed foreign terrorists have reportedly begun moving towards the Lebanese border from the Dumeir and Al-Sin bases in Qalamun northeast of Damascus.

Some of the military equipment at these bases has reportedly been taken to the civilian airport in Damascus. Missile ramps and ammunition, meanwhile, have been relocated outside population centers.

Equipment at the T4 airbase in Homs has reportedly been sent to the Nayrab and Kuwaires districts located in central and eastern Aleppo respectively. Iran-backed militiamen, meanwhile, have been moved to Daraa and areas near the Lebanese border.

With a view to protecting its warplanes from a possible U.S. military strike, the regime has reportedly sent a number of IL-76 and SU-type fighters to the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province -- also used by Russia -- and Hama’s military airport.

On Saturday, the city of Douma, a Damascus suburb, was hit with a suspected chemical weapons attack that left at least 78 people dead, according to the White Helmets civil-defense agency.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted: “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’”

He added: “You shouldn’t be partners with a gas killing animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis later said that Washington was still analyzing intelligence related to Saturday’s suspected chemical weapons attack.