Syrian rebels seize Damascus: A new era after Assad
The representative of the Syrian rebels, Mohamed al-Bashir, announced on Tuesday that he has become the interim Prime Minister of Syria. He is set to lead the government until 1st March. Syrian fighters declared early on Sunday morning the capture of the country's capital, Damascus, bringing an end to the more than 50-year rule by the Assad family.
Mohamed al-Bashir is an engineer by education. He previously managed the so-called National Revival Government, which operated in opposition to the toppled Bashar al-Assad over the weekend. He is associated with HTS, an Islamist group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani.
Al-Bashir announced his decision in a televised address. He will lead the government until 1st March 2025, Reuters reports. On Sunday, the latest stage began in the civil war ongoing since 2011, in which Bashar al-Assad was supported by, among others, Russia, Iran, and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
To recap, Syrian rebels announced they had taken over the country on Sunday. Two organisations participated in the action: Julani's HTS and the Syrian National Army. Immediately, there were claims that Turkey helped coordinate the rebels' offensive and gave it the green light. However, Turkish authorities officially deny playing any role in the recent events in Syria.
On Monday, it was confirmed that Bashar al-Assad and members of his family are in Moscow, with Russia stating they have granted them asylum.
EU leaders expressed satisfaction on Sunday with the fall of the Syrian regime. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as a "historical change," which "creates new opportunities but is not without risks".
