Syrian air defense forces reported on full alert for US attack

Syrian air defense forces were placed on full alert Monday night amid concerns about a possible US strike against the country, Al Masdar News reported, citing local media sources. A source at the Mezzeh Air Base claimed that the troops stationed at the facility were ordered to prepare for a possible attack against Damascus. The Syrian government hasn’t yet commented on these reports. While the exact reason for the alert wasn’t revealed, the news agency cited “the potential threat of a US strike on the capital or its surrounding area.”  The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Syrian rebels in Idlib were preparing to stage a false flag chemical weapon attack against civilians in order to blame Damascus and give the US and its allies a pretext for a punitive strike against Syria.