Leader of Syrian Rebels Appoints Foreign and Defense Ministers in Interim Government

The leader of the Syrian rebels, Ahmad al-Shara, known as al-Julani, appointed As'ad al-Shaybani as the new foreign minister and Marhaf Abu Qasra as the defense minister of the country's interim government. The news of the new foreign minister's appointment was first published by rebel-affiliated media, while Reuters reported the appointment of the defense minister. According to a Syrian official source cited by Reuters, al-Julani appointed Marhaf Abu Qasra as defense minister on Saturday, December 22. Abu Qasra, known during the Syrian civil war by names such as 'Abu Hassan 600' or 'Abu Hassan al-Hamawi', led multiple military operations that contributed to the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The state news agency SANA, controlled by the rebels, has not yet published news of this appointment but reported that al-Julani emphasized the integration of armed groups into the 'New Syrian Army' during a meeting with them. In SANA's photos from this meeting, Marhaf Abu Qasra is seen sitting next to al-Julani in military attire. Mohammad al-Bashir, who has been appointed as the prime minister of the interim government, stated a few days ago that the Syrian Ministry of Defense would be rebuilt using former rebel groups and officers who defected from Bashar al-Assad's army. The official Syrian news agency, SANA, previously reported that As'ad Hassan al-Shaybani had been appointed as the new foreign minister. A source in the Syrian interim government told Reuters that this action is 'a response to the demands of the Syrian people for establishing international relations aimed at achieving peace and stability.' SANA introduced As'ad al-Shaybani as 37 years old and a graduate of Damascus University; he previously headed the political office of the rebel government in Idlib province. Ahmad al-Shara has held meetings with foreign diplomatic delegations, including the UN special envoy for Syria and senior American diplomats, since coming to power in Damascus. He has stated that his goal is economic reconstruction and development, asserting that he is not seeking to initiate any new conflicts. However, the future of Ahmad al-Shara's government and the group he leads, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, remains uncertain; despite the West and many Syrians welcoming the group's overthrow of Assad, concerns persist about the potential imposition of strict Islamic laws. Syrian rebels captured Damascus on December 9, ending Bashar al-Assad's more than 13-year rule and decades of his family's governance. Forces under Ahmad al-Shara have formed a three-month interim government that previously ruled over rebel areas in Idlib. Ahmad al-Shara, who was designated a terrorist by the United States in 2013, was previously a member of al-Qaeda but separated from the group in 2016. The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that it would revoke the $10 million bounty placed on his capture. The Syrian civil war, which lasted over 13 years, left hundreds of thousands dead, created a widespread refugee crisis, and turned cities into ruins. Now, the interim government faces the challenge of rebuilding the country and engaging with the international community. In recent days, delegations from regional countries such as Turkey and Qatar have traveled to Syria and met with Ahmad al-Shara. Following them, Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, and delegations from Britain, Germany, and France also visited Damascus to meet with Mr. Shara and transitional government officials. The administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden have sanctioned Bashar al-Assad and Syria over the past decade, as the regime was directly supported militarily by Russia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Hezbollah during the civil war and the massacre of protesters.