Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure previously little known outside Syria’s northwest, announced on Tuesday that he has assumed the role of Syria’s interim prime minister, backed by former rebel groups who ousted President Bashar al-Assad three days prior.
In a brief address on state television, al-Bashir stated, “Today, we held a cabinet meeting under the headline of transferring files and institutions to caretake the government.” His appointment marks a significant shift in Syria’s political landscape following years of civil conflict.
In the capital, Damascus, a sense of cautious normalcy began to return. Banks reopened for the first time since Assad’s departure, shops lifted their shutters, traffic flowed along the roads, and street cleaners resumed their duties. The presence of armed men was notably reduced.
Sources close to the rebel groups reported that commanders have ordered fighters to withdraw from cities, allowing police and internal security forces affiliated with the main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS), to deploy. HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate that led the anti-Assad revolt, has recently downplayed its jihadist roots to gain broader support.
Ceasefire in the North
A ceasefire has been reached between the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) after days of intense clashes over control of the northern city of Manbij. The agreement, mediated by the United States, was announced by SDF commander Mazloum Abdi early on Wednesday.
“The fighters of the Manbij Military Council, who have been resisting the attacks since November 27, will withdraw from the area as soon as possible,” Abdi stated. The ceasefire follows an earlier agreement between the U.S. and Türkiye to facilitate the safe withdrawal of the SDF from Manbij after advances by Türkiye-backed groups.
The SDF, a key ally in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State militants, has been at odds with Türkiye, which considers it affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye due to its decades-long insurgency.
Israeli Strikes Intensify
Israel’s military announced on Tuesday that it had conducted over 350 airstrikes across Syria in the past 48 hours, targeting and destroying “most” of Syria’s advanced weaponry, including sites in Damascus. Missile vessels also struck Syrian naval facilities at Al-Bayda and Latakia ports.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strikes aimed to prevent advanced weapons from “falling into the hands of terrorist elements.” The dismantling of strategic weapon stockpiles is seen as a move to safeguard Israeli security interests amidst the shifting dynamics in Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a desire to establish relations with Syria’s new government but issued a stern warning. “If the new leadership allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons, or weapons of any kind, to Hezbollah, or attacks us—we will respond forcefully, and we will exact a heavy price,” he said in a video statement from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.
Following Assad’s flight on Sunday, Israeli troops moved into the demilitarized zone established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, including the Syrian side of the strategic Mount Hermon overlooking Damascus. A military spokesperson confirmed that Israeli forces remained in the buffer zone and “a few additional points” nearby.
The Israeli incursion has been condemned by regional powers, including Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. International concern is mounting over the potential escalation of tensions in an already volatile region.
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, urged Israel to cease military operations within Syrian territory. “A very troubling development is that we are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory. This needs to stop,” Pedersen stated at a press conference.
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Rebel-backed figure takes charge as Syria's interim prime minister
cgtn.com
