Syrian rebels declare victory: Capital captured, new leadership
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. Syrian fighters declared early on Sunday morning the capture of the country's capital, Damascus, marking the end of the Assads' over 50-year rule.
Mohamed al-Bashir is an engineer by education. He previously managed the so-called National Revival Government, which operated in opposition to the toppled Bashar al-Assad over the weekend. He is associated with HTS, an Islamist group called Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani.
Reuters reports that Al-Bashir announced his decision in a televised address, stating he will lead the government until March 1st, 2025. 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.
To recap, Syrian rebels announced they had taken over the country on Sunday. Two organizations participated in the action: Julani's HTS and the Syrian National Army. Immediately, there were claims that Turkey helped coordinate the rebels' offensive and gave it the green light. However, Turkish authorities officially deny playing 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 them asylum.
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."
