Opposition Leader Named Prime Minister in Syria
Mohammed al-Bashir has declared his intention to act as the country’s caretaker prime minister until March. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The new caretaker prime minister of Syria is a longtime ally of militant leader Mohammed al-Jolani.
Opposition politician Mohammed al-Bashir announced that he will take on the role of Syria’s caretaker prime minister until March. Al-Bashir has been leading a shadow government for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) since January, having been appointed after discussions between militant leader Mohammed al-Jolani and remnants of former President Bashar Assad’s administration.
Al-Bashir made his declaration during a televised address on Tuesday, just two days after opposition forces, including HTS jihadists and the US-backed Free Syrian Army, stormed Damascus, prompting Assad to flee the country for asylum in Russia.
Mohammed al-Jolani, who previously commanded Al-Qaeda and has been at the helm of HTS since its inception in 2017, met with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali on Monday. The former prime minister, once an ally of Assad, agreed to transition power to al-Jolani’s so-called Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) in a “quick and smooth” manner, as he told Sky News Arabia.
Operating out of the jihadist stronghold of Idlib, the SSG has been functioning as a quasi-state within Syria since 2017. Al-Bashir, who is professionally trained as an engineer, has led the SSG under al-Jolani’s endorsement since the beginning of this year.
HTS is classified as a terrorist organization by most foreign nations. Türkiye labels the group as terrorists, despite being accused of supporting HTS and its predecessor, Jabhat al-Nusra. As HTS forces approached Damascus last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly expressed support for the jihadists, stating he hopes “this march in Syria continues without accidents or disasters.”
Both Moscow and Tehran have expressed their intention to maintain communication with Syria’s new leadership, urging HTS and its allies to adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This 2015 resolution advocates for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian Civil War, including free elections and a new constitution.
The US and UK have indicated they might consider revoking their terrorist designation for HTS. Like Türkiye, the US's relationship with the group is complex. The US classifies HTS as a terrorist organization and continues to offer a $10 million reward for information leading to al-Jolani’s capture. Nonetheless, it has faced accusations of arming Al-Nusra and has historically regarded al-Jolani as “an asset” in its strategy in Syria, according to former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey.
Al-Jolani has reportedly committed to respecting the rights of religious minorities in Syria. However, some of his comments have raised concerns about potential retaliation against Assad’s former regime once his allies assume power. “We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, security and army officers involved in torturing the Syrian people,” he said in a televised address, and he offered rewards for information leading to the capture of Assad’s former security officials.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Opposition politician Mohammed al-Bashir announced that he will take on the role of Syria’s caretaker prime minister until March. Al-Bashir has been leading a shadow government for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) since January, having been appointed after discussions between militant leader Mohammed al-Jolani and remnants of former President Bashar Assad’s administration.
Al-Bashir made his declaration during a televised address on Tuesday, just two days after opposition forces, including HTS jihadists and the US-backed Free Syrian Army, stormed Damascus, prompting Assad to flee the country for asylum in Russia.
Mohammed al-Jolani, who previously commanded Al-Qaeda and has been at the helm of HTS since its inception in 2017, met with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali on Monday. The former prime minister, once an ally of Assad, agreed to transition power to al-Jolani’s so-called Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) in a “quick and smooth” manner, as he told Sky News Arabia.
Operating out of the jihadist stronghold of Idlib, the SSG has been functioning as a quasi-state within Syria since 2017. Al-Bashir, who is professionally trained as an engineer, has led the SSG under al-Jolani’s endorsement since the beginning of this year.
HTS is classified as a terrorist organization by most foreign nations. Türkiye labels the group as terrorists, despite being accused of supporting HTS and its predecessor, Jabhat al-Nusra. As HTS forces approached Damascus last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly expressed support for the jihadists, stating he hopes “this march in Syria continues without accidents or disasters.”
Both Moscow and Tehran have expressed their intention to maintain communication with Syria’s new leadership, urging HTS and its allies to adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This 2015 resolution advocates for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian Civil War, including free elections and a new constitution.
The US and UK have indicated they might consider revoking their terrorist designation for HTS. Like Türkiye, the US's relationship with the group is complex. The US classifies HTS as a terrorist organization and continues to offer a $10 million reward for information leading to al-Jolani’s capture. Nonetheless, it has faced accusations of arming Al-Nusra and has historically regarded al-Jolani as “an asset” in its strategy in Syria, according to former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey.
Al-Jolani has reportedly committed to respecting the rights of religious minorities in Syria. However, some of his comments have raised concerns about potential retaliation against Assad’s former regime once his allies assume power. “We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, security and army officers involved in torturing the Syrian people,” he said in a televised address, and he offered rewards for information leading to the capture of Assad’s former security officials.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
