Ahmed Al Sharaa, Syria’s de facto leader, announced on Tuesday that all rebel groups would merge under the defense ministry, according to a statement from the new administration. The agreement was reached with former rebel faction leaders to dissolve their individual groups.
Last week, Prime Minister Mohammed Al Bashir revealed plans to restructure the defense ministry by incorporating former rebel factions and officers who defected from Bashar Al Assad’s army. This restructuring aims to stabilize the nation and reduce internal conflicts.
Sharaa faces the tough challenge of preventing clashes between the various groups as they integrate into a unified force. In a key move, the new leadership appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra as defense minister in the interim government. Abu Qasra is a prominent figure from the insurgency that led to Assad’s downfall.
Syria’s population is historically diverse, comprising ethnic and religious minorities such as Muslim Kurds, Shias, Syriac, Greek and Armenian Orthodox Christians, and the Druze. During the civil war, many of these groups feared that a future Sunni Islamist rule might threaten their way of life.
Sharaa has reassured Western officials that the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) group he leads, which was previously affiliated with Al Qaeda, will not seek revenge against the former regime or oppress religious minorities. His statements aim to foster trust and stability in the newly governed Syria.
The rebels took control of Damascus on December 8, forcing Bashar Al Assad to flee after over 13 years of civil war, ending his family’s decades-long rule over the country.
