Ahmed al-Sharaa has been appointed as Syria’s transitional president following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. He plans to establish an interim legislative council while dissolving the existing parliament and integrating rebel factions into state institutions. Russia’s support and reconstruction efforts are critical as Syria works towards recovery after the civil war.
Ahmed al-Sharaa has been appointed as Syria’s transitional president, according to state media, following the successful rebel offensive that resulted in the departure of Bashar al-Assad. This announcement was made seven weeks after significant military gains by the opposition forces. As president, Sharaa has committed to forming an interim legislative council to govern until a new constitution is established.
In addition, the rebel military commander Hassan Abdul Ghani declared the annulment of Syria’s 2012 constitution and the disbanding of the former regime’s parliament and security agencies. He emphasized that all rebel factions opposing Assad would be integrated into official state institutions. These declarations coincided with a meeting in Damascus attended by various faction leaders allied with Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously linked with al-Qaeda and still classified as a terrorist organization by multiple entities, has been influential in the last significant rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria. The civil war, ignited by Assad’s harsh crackdown on peaceful protests in 2011, has resulted in over half a million deaths and forced approximately 12 million people to flee their homes.
On December 8, after a swift military campaign, Assad resigned and fled to Russia. An interim government under Mohammed al-Bashir, the former leader of the rebel administration in the northwest, has been assigned to manage the country until March. Subsequently, the Syrian government urged Russia to amend previous errors by providing war reparations during their first senior-level meeting since Assad’s exit.
During discussions between Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, emphasis was placed on rebuilding trust with the Syrian population through practical measures, including compensation and reconstruction. The Russian foreign ministry expressed ongoing support for Syria’s sovereignty and its efforts to recover from the civil conflict.
Since the Russian military’s involvement, approximately 21,000 individuals have lost their lives due to their airstrikes in rebel territories since 2015. Following recent developments, Russia has been diminishing its military presence at its bases in Syria, although it is anticipated that they will retain their strategic foothold in the Mediterranean region. Recent satellite imagery has indicated that Russian naval activity continues at the Tartous base.
The spokesperson for the Kremlin emphasized the vitality of establishing consistent dialogue with Syria. Furthermore, Sharaa articulated the importance of maintaining Russia’s strategic interests in Syria, acknowledging that much of the nation’s military assets and infrastructure are of Russian origin.
The appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa as Syria’s transitional president marks a pivotal moment following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. With the disbanding of previous governmental structures and the promise of an interim legislative council, Syria is poised for significant change. The ongoing dialogue with Russia aims to secure the nation’s future as it looks to recover from years of civil war while integrating former rebel factions into new state institutions.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
