Syrian rebels claim victory: End of Assad's five-decade reign
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 March 1st, 2025. Syrian fighters declared early on Sunday morning the capture of the country's capital, Damascus, marking the end of over 50 years of Assad family rule.
Mohamed al-Bashir is an engineer by education. Previously, he managed the so-called National Revival Government, which operated in opposition to the now-toppled Bashar al-Assad regime over the weekend. He is associated with HTS, an Islamist group led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, called Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.
Al-Bashir announced his decision in a televised address. He is to lead the government until March 1st, 2025, as reported by Reuters. On Sunday, the latest stage began in the civil war ongoing since 2011, during which Bashar al-Assad was supported by, among others, Russia, Iran, and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
Let's recall: On Sunday, Syrian rebels announced they had taken over the country. Two organizations participated in the action: Julani's HTS and the Syrian National Army. There were immediate claims that Turkey coordinated and approved the rebel offensive. However, Turkish authorities officially deny 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 asylum to them.
EU institution 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."
