Al-Bashir Claims Authority in Syria Amid Political Turmoil

In a surprising development, Al-Bashir asserts control in Syria, adding a new dimension to the region’s ongoing political and military conflicts.

Opposition politician Mohammed al-Bashir has declared that he will act as Syria’s interim prime minister until March. Al-Bashir, who has headed a rebel-operated shadow government since January, was appointed after discussions between militant leader Mohammed al-Jolani and the remnants of former President Bashar Assad’s administration.

In a televised speech on Tuesday, Al-Bashir announced his decision two days following the takeover of Damascus by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and US-armed Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants. This event prompted Assad to leave the country in pursuit of asylum in Russia.

On Monday, Al-Jolani, previously an Al-Qaeda commander and the leader of HTS since its inception in 2017, engaged in discussions with outgoing Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali. Once a supporter of Assad, the prime minister confirmed to Sky News Arabia his agreement to transfer power swiftly and smoothly to al-Jolani’s so-called Syrian Salvation Government (SSG).

Located in the jihadist hub of Idlib, the SSG has operated as a quasi-state entity within Syria since 2017. Al-Bashir, an engineer by profession, has been leading the SSG with al-Jolani’s approval since January of this year.

HTS is regarded as a terrorist organization by the majority of international powers. Türkiye also labels the group as terrorists; however, Ankara has faced accusations of supporting HTS and its predecessor, Jabhat al-Nusra. As HTS fighters advanced towards Damascus last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly expressed support for them, wishing “this march in Syria continues without accidents or disasters.”

Moscow and Tehran have announced their intention to maintain communication with Syria’s new leadership, urging HTS and its allies to adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Adopted in 2015, this resolution calls for a peaceful resolution of the Syrian Civil War through free elections and the establishment of a new constitution.

Both the US and UK have expressed a willingness to reconsider their terrorist designation of HTS. Similar to Türkiye, the US has a complex relationship with this group. While it labels HTS as terrorists and offers a $10 million reward for information leading to al-Jolani’s capture, Washington has also faced accusations of arming Al-Nusra. Furthermore, according to former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey, the US State Department has considered al-Jolani “an asset” in its strategy in Syria.

Al-Jolani has pledged to uphold the rights of Syria’s religious minorities. However, some remarks he made have raised concerns that he may intend to launch a campaign of retribution when his allies come into power. In a televised statement, the former Al-Qaeda leader asserted, “We will not hesitate to hold accountable those criminals and murderers—security and army officers who tortured the Syrian people,” while offering rewards for information leading to Assad’s former security officials.