Syria's newly appointed interim leader officially assumed control of the country's transitional authority on Tuesday, just days after a coalition of rebel factions removed the Ba'athist dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad.
Following a discussion in Damascus with opposition figures and former officials from Assad's administration, Mohammed al-Bashir delivered a brief statement during a televised broadcast, announcing his appointment to oversee the nation’s civil affairs until March 1.
"Today we held a cabinet meeting that included a team from the Salvation government that was working in Idlib and its vicinity and the government of the ousted regime," he remarked. "The meeting was under the headline of transferring the files and institutions to caretake the government."
Al-Bashir had previously held the position of Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government since January 13, the administrative branch of the leading rebel faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
It is still uncertain what role the 41-year-old electrical engineer will play after his term concludes in two and a half months, as insurgent groups have yet to outline any electoral processes or succession plans.
The selection of al-Bashir was met with confirmation from the White House that the United States would back the new leadership in Syria, contingent on the destruction of any remaining chemical weapons from al-Assad's military, a renouncement of terrorism, and the protection of the rights of women and religious minorities. These stipulations follow concerns from Western foreign ministries regarding Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s past ties with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
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