Syrian interim leader pledges peace as Bashar Al‑Assad flees

Mohamed al-Bashir, who assumed the position of interim prime minister of Syria, emphasized in an interview with the Qatari channel Al Jazeera that his nation is exhausted by the 13-year civil war.

He promised to restore stability and peace, making this his first public address since taking office.

"Now it is time for this people to enjoy stability and calm. Our people deserve living a decent life and receiving the best services of the highest quality," stated al-Bashir.

Al-Bashir was appointed head of the government responsible for handling current affairs until March 2025, pending the resolution of constitutional issues. He previously led the national rebirth government, established by rebels from the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib, their stronghold for years.

"We are faced with big challenges but our previous experience of governing the Idlib governorate and adjacent territories has furnished us with vast expertise," said al-Bashir.

Al-Bashir emphasized that the interim government's missions involve maintaining security, preserving the stability of institutions, and preventing state collapse, citing "providing Syrians with basic services until a new government meeting the interests of the Syrian people is formed."

Over the weekend, Bashar al-Assad, who had ruled the country for almost a quarter of a century, fled from the Syrian capital, Damascus. He and his family found refuge in Russia, where they were granted asylum.