Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been appointed president for the “transitional period,” state media reported, seven weeks after leading the rebel offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad.
According to the Sana news agency, rebel military commander Hassan Abdul Ghani announced the annulment of Syria’s 2012 constitution and the dissolution of the former regime’s parliament, army, and security agencies.
As transitional president, Sharaa is tasked with forming an interim legislative council to govern the country until a new constitution is established. Abdul Ghani added that all rebel groups opposing Assad during the 13-year civil war would be disbanded and integrated into state institutions.
The announcements were made during a gathering in Damascus on Wednesday, attended by faction leaders who fought alongside Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in the rebel alliance. The event, titled the “Conference for Announcing the Victory of the Syrian Revolution,” highlighted the next steps for Syria’s leadership.
Dressed in military uniform, Sharaa addressed the commanders, emphasizing the “heavy task and great responsibility” facing the country’s new leadership.
He said the first priority was to “fill the power vacuum in a legitimate and legal way”. Secondly, he added, civil peace should be maintained by “seeking transitional justice and preventing revenge attacks”.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s de facto leader, has called for the reconstruction of state institutions, including the military, security agencies, police, and economic infrastructure, as part of the transitional government’s priorities.
In an interview with Al Arabiya TV in late December, Sharaa estimated that it could take up to four years to hold new elections. He emphasized the need for an updated census, which he said would require significant time, alongside drafting a new constitution, a process expected to take three years. He also reiterated plans for a “national dialogue conference” aimed at uniting all segments of Syrian society.
Syria’s civil war, sparked in 2011 when Bashar al-Assad violently suppressed a peaceful pro-democracy movement, has left over half a million dead and displaced 12 million people. The recent rebel offensive led by Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—a former al-Qaeda affiliate still designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and UK—culminated in the collapse of Assad’s regime. On December 8, Assad resigned and fled to Russia as rebels entered Damascus after a rapid 12-day campaign.
An interim government, led by Mohammed al-Bashir, the former head of the rebel administration in the north-west, will oversee Syria’s affairs until March.
Meanwhile, Syria has urged Russia to address “past mistakes” by paying war reparations. This was discussed during the visit of a Kremlin delegation led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, marking the first high-level engagement since Assad’s fall. Talks focused on rebuilding trust with Syrians through compensation, reconstruction, and recovery efforts, according to state media.
Russia’s military intervention in 2015, which included extensive airstrikes in support of Assad, caused significant civilian casualties. A UK-based monitoring group reported that Russian operations killed over 21,000 people, including 8,700 civilians.
Following Assad’s ouster, Russia has begun withdrawing troops and equipment from its Mediterranean bases in Syria, including the Hmeimim airbase and Tartous naval facility. Satellite images analyzed by BBC Verify suggest an evacuation of Tartous may be underway, though experts believe Russia aims to maintain a strategic presence in the region. Two Russian warships were recently spotted docked at Tartous, signaling continued interest in retaining the base.
Following the Russian delegation’s visit to Damascus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow: “That was an important trip, and the contacts were important, too, because it is necessary to establish and maintain a constant dialogue with Syria.”
When asked about reports that the Syrian government had requested Assad’s extradition and war reparations in return, he replied: “I leave this without any comments. We will continue further dialogue with the Syrian authorities.”
In the interview with Al Arabiya, Sharaa noted the “deep strategic interests between Russia and Syria” and said he did not want Russia to leave “in a way that undermines its relationship with our country”.
“All of Syria’s arms are of Russian origin, and many power plants are managed by Russian experts,” he added.