Russian Military Police Start Manning Checkpoints Near Damascus

Russian Military Police, deployed in the southern part of the Eastern Ghouta de-escalation zone near Damascus, have started manning checkpoints to repel a possible attack of terrorist groups.

Servicemen of the Russian military police have been deployed in the southern part of the Eastern Ghouta de-escalation zone near the Syrian capital of Damascus.

"The personnel is 100% ready. Twice a day, we train to repel possible attacks by terrorists," military police Capt. Alexei Polatinsky was quoted as saying by TASS Friday.

The checkpoints and observation zones in Eastern Ghouta can be attacked at any moment, Polatinsky added. A group of nearly 350 militants from the Jabhat an-Nusra terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) is based nearby and attacks everyone who approaches their positions.

An agreement on a de-escalation zone has been in effect in Eastern Ghouta, some 10 km north of Damascus, since noon July 24.

The deployment of Russian military police is seen as further entrenchment of Russia into the Syrian conflict on the side of the Assad regime.