Syria’s leading rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has named Mohammad al-Bashir as the new prime minister of the country’s transitional government following the collapse of the Assad regime. Bashir previously led an administration in Idlib under HTS control. Israel has announced plans to create a “sterile defensive zone” in southern Syria after conducting a bombing campaign against Syrian military assets. At the same time, Turkish forces have attacked Kurdish targets in northern Syria, putting the US military presence in the region at risk. The Biden administration has called for an inclusive political process in Syria, while western countries wait to see how the transitional government led by HTS unfolds. The future of Russian military assets in the country remains uncertain. Meanwhile, concerns about sectarian violence and a resurgence of extremism in Syria persist. The dissolution of Kurdish-run prisons holding Islamic State (IS) fighters could potentially fuel a resurgence in IS attacks, posing a challenge for the incoming administration. Despite calls to stay out of conflicts, the US continues to be involved in Syria to prevent IS from reconstituting. The situation on the ground in Syria continues to develop rapidly, with outside powers vying for control and influence over the country’s future.
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Syrian rebels appoint new Prime Minister as foreign powers seek to protect their interests in Syria
