The caretaker prime minister is a long-time ally of militant chief Mohammed al-Jolani
Opposition politician Mohammed al-Bashir has introduced that he’ll function Syria’s caretaker prime minister till March. Al-Bashir, who has led a rebel-run shadow authorities since January, was appointed following talks between militant chief Mohammed al-Jolani and the remnants of former President Bashar Assad’s administration.
Al-Bashir made his announcement in a televised speech on Tuesday, two days after Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and US-armed Free Syrian Military (FSA) militants stormed Damascus and Assad left the nation to hunt asylum in Russia.
Al-Jolani, a former Al-Qaeda commander who has led HTS since its formation in 2017, held talks with outgoing Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali on Monday. A former ally of Assad, the prime minister agreed at hand over energy to al-Jolani’s so-called Syrian Salvation Authorities (SSG) in a “fast and easy” transition, he instructed Sky Information Arabia.
Primarily based within the jihadist hotbed of Idlib, the SSG has functioned as a quasi-state inside Syria since 2017. Al-Bashir, who’s an engineer by commerce, has led the SSG with al-Jolani’s blessing since January of this yr.
HTS is taken into account a terrorist group by most international powers. Türkiye considers the group terrorists, though Ankara has been accused of supporting it and its predecessor, Jabhat al-Nusra. As HTS fighters closed in on Damascus final week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly wished the jihadists properly, stating that he hopes “this march in Syria continues with out accidents or disasters.”
Moscow and Tehran have each mentioned that they are going to stay involved with Syria’s new management, and each have known as on HTS and its allies to respect UN Safety Council Decision 2254. Handed in 2015, this decision requires a peaceable finish to the Syrian Civil Battle, free elections, and a brand new structure.
The US and UK have each mentioned that they’d contemplate lifting their terrorist designation on HTS. Like Türkiye, the US has an advanced relationship with the group. On the one hand, it considers HTS terrorists and presents a $10 million bounty for data resulting in al-Jolani’s seize. On the opposite, Washington has been accused of arming Al-Nusra, and the US State Division has lengthy seen al-Jolani as “an asset” to American technique in Syria, in line with former US Particular Consultant for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey.
Al-Jolani has promised to respect the rights of Syria’s spiritual minorities. Nevertheless, a few of his statements have sparked fears that he plans to wage a marketing campaign of retribution as soon as his comrades take workplace. “We is not going to hesitate to carry accountable the criminals, murderers, safety and military officers concerned in torturing the Syrian individuals,” the previous Al-Qaeda commander mentioned in a televised assertion, providing rewards to anybody keen to show in Assad’s former safety officers.
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