The leader of the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham's (HTS) political wing, Mohammed al Bashir, will take on the role. Since January, he served as the head of the oppositional Syrian Salvation Government, which was formed in 2017 by HTS.
HTS is designated a terrorist organization by the US State Department and the Salvation Government is involved in what is described by the agency as antihumanitarian exploitation.
The department said in its 2023 report on human rights violations in Syria, "Humanitarian actors reported HTS and the HTS-affiliated Syrian Salvation Government attempted to regulate, benefit from, or interfere with the delivery of aid and services in areas of the northwest. This included attempts to impose 'taxes' and fees on humanitarian organizations, impose licensing and registration protocols, and interfere with beneficiary selection and aid distribution."
Following the HTS takeover, the US launched air strikes against Islamic State terrorists and former Assad regime weapons stores.
According to the state-affiliated newspaper al Watan, rebel leaders on Monday issued a directive prohibiting attacks on former personnel of Assad's Syrian Arab Army, granted amnesty to the previous regime's soldiers, and will not punish women for their style of dress. According to the Washington Examiner, this is an attempt by the rebels to appear more "centrist."
During a video address on Sunday, former Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al Jalali said he is prepared to participate in "handover procedures" with the incoming government. "This country can be a normal country that builds good relations with its neighbors and the world. But this issue is up to any leadership chosen by the Syrian people. We are ready to cooperate with it and offer all possible facilities."
