Al-Sharaa Forms Cabinet in Damascus, Restructures Ministries
Ahmed al-Sharaa, interim president of Syria and leader of the armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), announced the establishment of a transitional government in Damascus on Saturday, formalizing his group’s control following the collapse of the previous regime in late 2024.
The newly appointed cabinet retains several prominent members of the interim leadership that emerged after the ousting of Bashar Assad, the former president, who ruled the country for 25 years. Asaad al-Shaibani, who previously oversaw foreign affairs, has been named foreign minister. Anas Khattab, the interim intelligence chief, will now lead the Interior Ministry. Murhaf Abu Qasra, who directed defense matters under the temporary administration, will serve as defense minister.
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The government also introduced institutional changes, including creating a Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, intended to coordinate responses to natural calamities and humanitarian emergencies. A separate ministry focused on youth and sports has also been formed.
Assad’s government fell on December 8, 2024, following nearly two weeks of intense fighting led by HTS and aligned factions. The offensive marked the most dramatic shift in power since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, which began with nationwide protests and quickly escalated into a multifront conflict involving foreign powers, Islamist factions, Kurdish militias, and pro-government forces.
Al-Sharaa, previously known as a senior HTS military commander, has since become the face of the group’s efforts to consolidate governance and create what he has described as a more stable and responsive Syrian administration.
