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DAMASCUS, Syria — The rebels that took over power by ousting president Bashar al-Assad have appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as transitional head of government to run the country until March 1.
al-Bashir who was key in bringing down the al-Assad’s regime said on state television Telegram account that, “The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1.”
The statement credited to al-Bashir on state television’s Telegram account, referred him as “the new Syrian prime minister”.
Recall that on Sunday, Assad fled Syria as an Islamist-led rebel alliance swept into the capital Damascus, ending five decades of brutal rule by his clan.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the Islamist leader who headed the move that forced Assad out, had announced talks on a transfer of power and vowed to pursue former senior officials responsible for torture and war crimes.
His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is rooted in Syria’s Al-Qaeda branch and is proscribed by many Western governments as a terrorist organisation, though it has sought to moderate its rhetoric.
Middle East nations condemn Israel’s reported operations inside Syria buffer zone
Meanwhile, Turkey has joined some Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in accusing Israel of exploiting the downfall of Assad to launch attacks into a buffer zone in Syria.
This accusation comes after the Israeli military acknowledged its troops are operating in Syrian territories beyond the demilitarised buffer zones between Syria and the Isreali occupied Golan Heights.
Israeli military claimed it destroyed Syria’s military fleet and said it would set up ‘sterile defensive.
Rebel leaders declare senior officials in Assad’s regime wanted for war crime
