Ahmed al-Sharaa Appointed as Syria's Transitional President

Ahmed al-Sharaa, a key figure in the recent rebel offensive against Bashar al-Assad, has been named as Syria's transitional president, marking a new chapter in the nation’s governance amidst ongoing reconstruction efforts and the dissolution of the previous regime's apparatus.

Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has recently been appointed as the president for the transitional period, according to state media reports. This decision comes just seven weeks after Sharaa spearheaded a successful offensive that resulted in the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. In a significant announcement, rebel military commander Hassan Abdul Ghani disclosed the cancellation of Syria's 2012 constitution and the disbanding of Assad's former parliament, army, and security agencies.

As the newly appointed president, Sharaa is tasked with forming an interim legislative council aimed at governing the nation until a new constitution is established. Sharaa emphasized that all rebel factions that opposed Assad during the 13-year civil conflict would be disbanded and integrated into state institutions. However, he acknowledged that new elections might take up to four years to organize.

The announcements were made during a meeting in Damascus, attended by various faction leaders who fought alongside Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This group, formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate, continues to be designated as a terrorist organization by multiple international bodies, including the UN, US, EU, and UK. The rise of HTS has been significant in the ongoing conflict, particularly in controlling the last rebel stronghold in north-western Syria.

The Syrian civil war, which began with a peaceful pro-democracy uprising in 2011, has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis, resulting in over half a million deaths and displacing approximately 12 million people. On December 8, the rebel coalition entered Damascus, leading to Assad’s resignation as he fled to Russia, marking a pivotal turn in the conflict.

Meanwhile, the transitional government's new prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, has been tasked to manage the country until March 2024. This change in leadership coincided with a visit from a high-ranking Russian delegation. Discussions between Sharaa and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov focused on fostering trust between Russia and the Syrian populace, emphasizing the importance of reparations, reconstruction, and recovery.

The Russian military previously engaged in extensive airstrikes against rebel positions starting in 2015, receiving significant criticism for civilian casualties, with estimates of over 8,700 civilian deaths due to these operations. In light of recent political changes, Russia seems to be re-evaluating its presence in Syria, with reports of troop withdrawals from key bases along the Mediterranean coast even as satellite imagery suggests an ongoing Russian naval presence.

The Kremlin continues to express support for Syria’s unity and its recovery from the civil war, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighting the necessity of maintaining a constant dialogue with Syrian authorities. In reaching out, Sharaa has voiced his intent to sustain strong relations with Russia, citing the strategic interests binding the two nations together—highlighting the reliance on Russian military equipment and expertise in managing essential services within Syria.