Syrian rebels have announced the appointment of Mohammed al-Bashir as the leader of a transitional government in Damascus, as reported by state media.
This new government is set to operate until March 1, reflecting a major transformation in Syria’s political situation following recent events.
On Sunday, rebels, primarily from the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a rapid and surprising offensive, taking control of Damascus and prompting President Bashar al-Assad to flee the country.
This marked a significant turning point, ending Assad’s long-standing rule after years of civil strife. Mohammed al-Bashir, who was previously the head of the rebels’ Salvation Government in northwest Syria and served as its development minister, will oversee the transitional administration.
In a statement on state television’s Telegram channel, he mentioned, “The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1.”
The Salvation Government was formed in 2017 to offer administrative, judicial, and security support to areas controlled by rebels.
Based in Idlib, it has expanded operations into Aleppo, the first major city to be lost to government control during the recent rebel advances.
Bashir’s new position represents a crucial progression as Syrian rebels begin governing important urban regions after years of conflict, and his leadership will require addressing the intricacies of managing a nation fractured by war.
