A New Chapter in Syria: Mohammed al-Bashir Takes Charge 💫
Syria is buzzing with change! Mohammed al-Bashir, a name you might not have heard before, just stepped up as the country's interim prime minister after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad three days ago. Backed by former rebels, al-Bashir announced on Tuesday that he'll be leading the nation until March 1.
\"Today we held a cabinet meeting under the headline of transferring the files and institutions to caretake the government,\" he said on state TV 📺. Al-Bashir previously managed an administration in a rebel-held area in northwest Syria, but now he's in the spotlight, guiding the country through this transitional period.
Life Returns to Damascus Streets 🌆
In the capital city of Damascus, things are slowly getting back to normal. Banks and shops reopened for the first time since Assad's ousting. Streets are bustling with traffic again, cleaners are sweeping up, and there are fewer armed men around. It's like a scene from a movie where the city's coming back to life after a big event!
Sources close to the rebels say that fighters have been ordered to withdraw from the cities. Instead, police and internal security forces linked to the main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), are taking over. HTS, which led the revolt against Assad, has been distancing itself from its past connections.
Ceasefire in the North 🤝
There's more good news! A ceasefire has been reached between the U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian forces (SDF) and Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) after days of clashes in the northern city of Manbij. Thanks to U.S. mediation, both sides agreed to put down their weapons.
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the SDF, announced early Wednesday that their fighters will withdraw from Manbij ASAP. This move follows an agreement to ensure the safe exit of SDF forces after advances by Türkiye-backed groups.
The SDF has been a key ally to the U.S. in fighting against extremist groups. However, Türkiye views them differently, associating them with groups they've been in conflict with for decades.
Tensions with Israel 🔥
In other news, Israel's military reported that it carried out 350 airstrikes across Syria in the past 48 hours, targeting advanced weapons and strategic stockpiles. They also struck naval facilities in Al-Bayda and Latakia ports. Israel aims to prevent these weapons from \"falling into the hands of terrorist elements,\" according to their statements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a desire for peaceful relations with Syria's new government. However, he also issued a strong warning against allowing Iran to establish a foothold in Syria or transferring weapons to groups hostile to Israel.
Following Assad's departure, Israeli troops moved into the demilitarized zone inside Syria, including areas overlooking Damascus. While they insist they haven't significantly penetrated Syrian territory, their actions have sparked condemnations from Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Calls for Peace 🕊️
The United Nations is urging for calm. Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, called on Israel to halt its military operations. \"This needs to stop,\" he stated during a press conference.
As Syria navigates this critical moment, the world watches closely. Will peace and stability finally return to this war-torn nation? Only time will tell.
Reference(s):
Rebel-backed figure takes charge as Syria's interim prime minister
cgtn.com
