Rebels in Syrian government positions
Last Updated on December 24, 2024 6:00 am
After the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, the de facto ruler of Syria is now in the hands of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the head of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
He has taken steps to organize the administration to improve international relations two weeks after Assad was ousted. In the meantime, Jolani appointed the country’s foreign minister and defense minister on Saturday. Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported this news on Sunday.
The ruling General Command Asad Hassan al-Shibani has been nominated as Syria’s foreign minister. In addition, a government source told Reuters that Murhaf Abu Kasra has been nominated as defense minister in the interim government. Abu Kasra is the top leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which leads the rebel groups.
Al Jazeera’s journalist Rasul Serdar, reporting from Damascus, said that Abu Kasra and al-Shibani are close allies of HTS leader Jolani. It can be said that HTS has set out to form the Syrian government with its own forces.
Rasul Serdar also said that all of the 14 members of the newly formed cabinet in the Syrian interim government are loyal to HTS leader Jolani. Jolani is also known as Ahmed al-Shara.
Meanwhile, Qatar has reopened its embassy in Syria after almost 13 years. Earlier, on Tuesday, the European Union (EU) said that it was also ready to reopen its diplomatic mission in Damascus. In the meantime, a high-level US delegation met with Jolani, the main leader of HTS, which was once considered a terrorist organization.
HTS was once associated with the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. However, the group now says that it has changed and wants to establish a system that works with everyone. Its main goal is now to build institutions.
Jolani has said that rebuilding the country and achieving economic development will be his primary focus. He has no interest in getting involved in any new conflict. The United States has designated Jolani as a terrorist since 2013. His militia group was specifically banned by the Trump administration in 2018 and a $10 million bounty was announced for his head. But 11 years later, the United States has reversed its decision.
Incidentally, rebel fighters took control of the capital Damascus on December 8. President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for 24 years, fled. The civil war in Syria has been going on for the last 13 years. With Assad’s fall, the 53-year rule of the al-Assad family in the country ended.