A number of top Syrian officials have been sacked, and a report from Middle East experts suggests Russia had a hand in the moves, reports Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
Facebook pages identified with the Syrian regime reported the firings.
"Among those replaced were the chiefs of the general intelligence, political security, criminal security, and air force intelligence apparatuses," reports the Middle East Media Research Institute</a.
"The Facebook reports on the personnel changes, which were cited later by the Arab press in other countries, have not been confirmed by the Syrian regime or the Syrian state press, but have also not been denied," the report said.
But the social media pages, including those belonging to Bahjat Suleiman, formerly Syrian ambassador to Jordan, and the Homs News Network and Tartous News Network pages, have noted the appointments of Nasser Ali as head of Syrian state security, Hussam Luka as head of general security, Nasser Dib as head of criminal security and Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail as head of Air Force security.
Other pages reported Muhammad Dib Zaytoun was named director of the National Security Bureau, replacing 'Ali Mamlouk, who was appointed vice president. But that was denied by "affiliates" of the regime.
Days earlier, a London-based publication reported a "new security body, Branch 801," had been set up.
"Branch 801, said the report, is subordinate to general intelligence, and had been created in accordance with a Russian recommendation," MEMRI said.
For the rest of this report, and more, please go to Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.