Syria’s interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, a low-profile figure with limited political background, has taken charge of the country’s administration with the backing of former rebels. Al-Bashir, who previously governed an enclave in northwest Syria, announced his new role on Tuesday and vowed to lead the interim authority until March 1.
The move comes as the Syrian capital, Damascus, begins to return to normalcy after President Bashar al-Assad was ousted three days ago. Banks reopened for the first time since Assad’s flight, shops were reopening, and traffic returned to the roads.
However, the normalization efforts were disrupted by intense airstrikes from Israel targeting bases of the Syrian army. The Israeli military denied reports that its forces had advanced beyond the buffer zone into Syria, but regional security sources described the strikes as the heaviest yet.
Despite the challenges, many Syrians expressed optimism about the new development. A refugee who had fled to Lebanon re-entered Syria and celebrated the fall of the Assad regime with a visit to an ice cream shop in old Damascus. The refugee said that something felt different now, and the ice cream tasted better than before.
The international community has cautiously welcomed the new development, with some countries condemning Israel’s incursion into Syria. Rebuilding Syria will be a colossal task after 13 years of civil war, but for many Syrians, it marks a new beginning.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrias-rebels-work-form-government-restore-order-after-assad-ouster-2024-12-10