Report: Syria Will Not Change Position, Regardless of Possible War

Even if said war turns out to be "World War III"

Syria will not change its position "even if there is World War III," its deputy foreign minister reportedly said Wednesday – even as activists claimed that another prominent member of the Assad regime had defected.

Faisal Muqdad insisted Syria's government would counter any military action aimed at punishing the regime for the suspected use of chemical weapons, according to an interview with AFP cited by regional news outlet Al-Arabiya.

"The Syrian government will not change position even if there is World War III. No Syrian can sacrifice the independence of his country," he reportedly told AFP.