After Syrian opposition forces recently overthrew President Bashar al-Assad, Mohammed al-Bashir was named temporary Prime Minister. Up to March 1, 2025, al Bashir, the previous leader of the government in Idlib province commanded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), will preside over a transitional administration.
After important discussions with the members of the fallen government, Bashar al-Assad made his appointment public in a televised announcement on Tuesday. “We had other meetings to restart the institutions to be able to serve our people in Syria,” he said. He emphasized efforts to restore government institutions and services for citizens across Syria during the critical interim period.
Al-Bashir previously led the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), which was established in 2017 to provide governance in rebel-held areas. The SSG operated ministries, courts, and security bodies to support civilians cut off from state services.
Al-Bashir also served as the SSG’s development minister before the rebels’ 12-day offensive culminated in Damascus. HTS, the group behind Damascus’s fall, played a central role in appointing Al-Bashir.
On Monday, the outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the leader of HTS, to talk about transnational government.
The SSG started providing aid to citizens in Aleppo, the first significant city taken by opposition forces. Meanwhile, banks and stores in Damascus reopened under the new government, marking the return of normalcy.
The Syrian army’s remaining forces, however, were the target of continuous Israeli airstrikes and withdrew as the rebels advanced. The Syrian war began in 2011 as peaceful protests against Assad eventually escalated into a devastating conflict involving global powers. With Mohammed al-Bashir as temporary leader, Syrians hope for a stable path forward after years of devastating violence.
