US special forces warned Syrian rebels to 'be ready' weeks before fighters launched the large-scale coup that toppled former President Bashar al-Assad's regime, it has emerged. Capt Bashar al-Mashadani, a Revolutionary Commando Army (RCA) commander, claims that American officers brought the brigade and other units under RCA command ahead of the December 8 offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Mashadani also claimed that America coordinated communication between the RCA and fighters of the HTS, which is led by Syria's interim leader Mohammed al-Jolani.