Syria’s newly appointed prime minister has been given the authority to manage daily affairs until March 1, 2025.
Syrian caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir announced his government’s tenure will extend until March 1, 2025, at which point a permanent government is expected to be formed.
Al-Bashir, former head of the Idlib government run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), assumed his position following the weekend’s Damascus takeover by a coalition of opposition groups, resulting in the ousting of President Bashar Assad.
In his first interview as prime minister, al-Bashir told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that former government officials and Idlib administrators have been invited to assist in the transition for the next two months, until a constitutional system is established.
“It’s time for the Syrian people to enjoy stability and peace,” al-Bashir stated.
Al-Bashir’s appointment followed discussions with HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani and former Assad-era Prime Minister Mohammad al-Jalali. Al Jazeera reports that ministers from the anti-Assad HTS government in Idlib have arrived in Damascus.
According to Al Jazeera sources in Damascus, the existing security apparatus will be dissolved, and anti-terrorism laws will be repealed. The new authorities will restructure the army, with the new cabinet prioritizing security and public services.
Despite HTS’s pledge to protect Syria’s religious minorities, several nations have voiced concern over the group’s historical ties to al-Qaeda and its past involvement in civilian massacres. The UN and the US still list HTS as a terrorist organization.
“It’s crucial to understand that some of the rebel groups that overthrew Assad have their own troubling history of terrorism and human rights abuses,” outgoing US President Joe Biden remarked on Sunday. He added that the US would “evaluate their actions, not just their words.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the new Syrian authorities to establish a unity government that operates “in an orderly fashion” and includes “all Syrian parties.”