The rebels who ousted President Bashar al-Assad and now control Syria have appointed a transitional head of government to lead the country until 1 March, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
“The general command has tasked us with overseeing the transitional government until 1 March,” read a statement attributed to Mohammad al-Bashir, who was referred to as “the new Syrian Prime Minister” on state television’s Telegram account.
Assad fled Syria on Sunday as an Islamist-led rebel coalition swept into Damascus, bringing an end to five decades of brutal rule by his family.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the Islamist leader who spearheaded the offensive that toppled Assad, announced discussions on a transfer of power and vowed to pursue former senior officials for torture and war crimes.
Jolani’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which evolved from Syria’s Al-Qaeda branch, is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by many Western governments. However, it has sought to moderate its rhetoric in recent years.
The UN envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, urged the rebel groups to transform their promising statements into tangible actions.
“They have been sending messages of unity and inclusiveness,” Pedersen said, adding that reassuring developments have been observed in cities like Aleppo and Hama. However, he cautioned: “What we need is for these positive statements and initial actions on the ground to be followed through in the coming days and weeks.”
The fall of Assad, whose regime maintained a vast network of prisons to suppress dissent, sparked celebrations across Syria and among the diaspora worldwide.
The civil war leading to his ousting claimed 500,000 lives and displaced half the population, with millions seeking refuge abroad.
Transitional Challenges
The collapse of Assad’s regime leaves Syria facing profound uncertainty. Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged accountability for crimes committed under Assad’s rule.
“We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, and security and army officers involved in torturing the Syrian people,” he declared.
Jolani met outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali on Monday to coordinate a power transfer ensuring continuity in public services, according to a statement on Telegram.
Missing Persons
Assad’s fall has prompted a desperate search by families for tens of thousands of missing individuals detained in his regime’s prisons.
As rebel forces advanced on Damascus, thousands of detainees were released, though many remain unaccounted for. Outside Saydnaya prison, notorious for atrocities under Assad, families gathered in search of missing relatives.
“I’m looking for my brother, missing since 2013. We believe he’s here in Saydnaya,” said Umm Walid, 52. “Now that Bashar is gone, I feel hopeful. The fear is over.”
Freed prisoners, many emaciated and bearing signs of torture, wandered the streets of Damascus, while neighbouring Lebanon and Jordan welcomed detainees held in Syria for decades.
Accountability and Strikes
The UN emphasised the need to hold Assad and his associates accountable for their crimes. UN investigators, who have long gathered evidence of atrocities, called Assad’s removal a “game-changer” as they now have access to critical sites.
However, concerns remain over whether the dreams of democracy for which so many Syrians sacrificed their lives will be realised. Sectarian violence is a potential risk, though Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has sought to reassure religious minorities of their safety in the new Syria.
Adding to the complexities, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 300 Israeli strikes since Assad’s removal.
The UN called on Israel to cease its operations, while Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed strikes on strategic sites, including naval vessels and suspected chemical weapons facilities, to prevent them falling into extremist hands.
In Latakia, smoke continued to rise from destroyed naval vessels, while Israel moved troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone near the Golan Heights to establish a “sterile defence zone”.
Assad, who brutally clung to power using airstrikes and chemical weapons, was ultimately ousted in a swift offensive lasting less than two weeks.