Syria’s Interim President Named Leader of Rebels Who Overthrew Assad

DAMASCUS, Syria—The Syrian factions that ousted President Bashar Assad last month have appointed an Islamist former rebel leader as the country‘s interim president on Wednesday to present a unified front for the monumental task of rebuilding Syria after nearly 14 years of civil war.

The former insurgents have also discarded Syria’s constitution, introduced during Assad’s rule, stating that a new charter will be drafted soon.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist group, was named Syria’s president “in the transitional phase” after a meeting of the former insurgent factions in Damascus, the Syrian capital.

The announcement was made by Col. Hassan Abdul Ghani, the spokesperson for Syria’s new de facto government’s military operations sector, as reported by the state-run SANA news agency. The exact method by which the factions selected al-Sharra as interim president remains unclear.

Previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa leads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, which orchestrated the swift campaign that brought down Assad in early December. The group was once aligned with al-Qaeda but has disavowed its previous connections.

In recent times, al-Sharaa has positioned himself as a proponent of diversity and tolerance, pledging to safeguard the rights of women and religious minorities.

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The United States had previously offered a $10 million reward for al-Sharaa but rescinded it last month after a U.S. delegation met with him in Damascus. Barbara Leaf, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, stated that al-Sharaa was seen as “pragmatic” following the meeting.

Addressing the gathering on Wednesday, al-Sharaa, clad in military attire, emphasized the significant challenge and responsibility facing Syria’s new leaders.

He outlined that key priorities for Syria’s reconstruction include “legitimately and legally filling the power vacuum” and “ensuring civil peace through transitional justice and preventing retaliatory attacks” post Assad’s tumultuous tenure.

Citizens in Damascus and other areas took to the streets to celebrate the announcement, with car horns blaring and some celebrating by firing into the air. Many voiced their support for al-Sharaa.

Abdallah al-Sweid, who joined the celebrations at Umayyad Square in Damascus, commended al-Sharaa, stating, “He is intelligent, understanding, and led the battle for Syria’s liberation. He is deserving of the presidency.”

However, some individuals, even those pleased with Assad’s ousting, expressed reservations about the appointment process and the lack of clarity regarding the next steps.

Mohammad Salim Alkhateb, an official with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, criticized the timing, prior commitments, and confusion surrounding the decision.

Qatar was the first to respond to al-Sharaa’s appointment, supporting decisions aimed at promoting unity among Syrian factions. The statement underlined the need for a “peaceful transfer of power through a comprehensive political process.”

While Western nations have begun re-establishing relations with Damascus post Assad’s removal, there remains some caution regarding Syria’s new Islamist leadership.

Abdul Ghani also announced the annulment of Syria’s 2012 constitution, established during Assad’s tenure, and authorized al-Sharaa to create a temporary legislative council until a new constitution is formulated.

Abdul Ghani further stated that all armed factions in the country would be dissolved and integrated into state institutions.

Since Assad’s downfall, HTS has become the dominant political party and has set up an interim government comprising officials from the local administration previously operated in rebel-held Idlib province.

The interim authorities pledged to launch a comprehensive process to establish a new government and constitution, including hosting a national dialogue conference involving Syria’s diverse communities, although no specific date has been set.

Al-Sharaa has advocated for the creation of a unified national army and security forces following Assad’s demise. However, challenges regarding merging various former rebel groups with distinct leaders and ideologies remain.

An additional complexity is the status of the U.S.-backed Kurdish groups that established an autonomous enclave early in Syria’s civil war, maintaining a neutral stance between Assad and the rebels. Post Assad’s removal, clashes between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed armed groups aligned with HTS have escalated in northern Syria.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces were notably absent from the armed factions meeting on Wednesday, and the group has not issued an immediate response.

At the World Economic Forum’s annual assembly in Davos this month, Asaad al-Shibani, Syria’s new foreign minister and HTS member, emphasized the country’s need for international support as it embarks on post-war reconstruction.