A new security agency has been established under the General Intelligence Directorate to “protect public facilities” based on a Russian proposal presented to Damascus, sources from the Syrian opposition said. This step is part of a series of changes carried out by Head of the Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad in the security services to bolster Russia’s position in the face of Iran’s penetration of the Syrian regime. The new agency was established based on Russian guidance followed by a security proposal by the Director of the Department of General Intelligence and a decision by Assad. Its task is to secure government facilities and important sites, such as embassies, Syrian Arab Television and Radio Broadcasting Commission (SATRBC), diplomatic bodies and banks. It also aims at controlling the status of the indiscriminate deployment of elements in various security agencies around the major and sensitive facilities, standardizing the observation process and security monitoring of these installations and laying the foundations for the new processes of monitoring and protecting of government installations. According to sources, as soon as the new agency started operating “patrols belonging to the rest of the security agencies were dispatched from those establishments that were selected and classified according to their importance.” “Their security, protection, and control now lie withing the General Intelligence Directorate’s responsibility alone.” “Rivalry between Moscow and Tehran to control the security decision centers in Syria and win allegiance to each of them have led to a disruption in those agencies’ security doctrine,” sources added. They pointed out that the new resolution aims to “limit Iran’s penetration in Syria and its efforts to control government facilities, major sites, SATRBC, and banks.” Sources stated that Moscow has succeeded in managing its rivalry with Iran to control the regime in a way that serves its interests, taking advantage of the growing international pressure on Iran. It has also tightened its grip on government facilities, security services, and military units, sources noted.