Russia-Iran Cold War | Russia lures residents in Palmyra and eastern Homs countryside to join “8th Brigade”

As Russia spares no effort in curtailing Iranian influence in Syria and imposing its complete control over Syria by all means across Syria, particularly in Iran-held areas, Russian-backed “8th Brigade” has opened a new office in Palmyra city centre in Al-Ba’ath Party headquarters near “Intelligence Branch,” in order to attract the people from Palmyra and its surrounding areas and the entire eastern Homs desert to join “8th Brigade”.

Reliable sources have added that Russia has commissioned a man known by his initials (A. A) to attract and lure the people of Palmyra in areas controlled by Turkish proxies, to join the brigade.

Russian also has commissioned a resident from Al-Sokhnah to woo the young men of the tribes in the region and in the areas controlled by Autonomous Administration, in particular, Amur and Bani Khalid tribes, with the aim to recruit them in the ranks of “8th brigade”.

Russia also seeks to attract local recruiters in the ranks of Iranian-backed militias by providing guarantees of non-prosecution in light of the Cold War between Russians and Iranians in Syria.

On January 8, SOHR activists reported that in light of the Russian-Iranian conflict in Syria with each side is attempting to impose absolute influence on Syria, Russian forces continue combating the Iranians in regime-controlled areas in Al-Hasakah province by intensifying their efforts to woo the residents and lure members of National Defence Forces (NDF) to switch to work with the Russians.

In this context, reliable sources informed the Syrian Observatory that Russian forces toured that morning Hamo village in the eastern countryside of Al-Qamishli in Al-Hasakah province, which is controlled by regime forces and NDF, where they distributed medicine, flour and bread to the village’s residents.