Syrian leader says he will announce the military structure in the coming days

23/12/2024 6:10

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Sunday his

administration would announce the new structure of the defence

ministry and military within days.



Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Turkish

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Sharaa said his administration

would not allow for arms outside the control of the state.



An official source told Reuters on Saturday that Murhaf Abu

Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency that toppled Bashar

al-Assad two weeks ago, had been named as defence minister in

the interim government.



Sharaa did not mention the appointment of a new defence

minister on Sunday.



Sharaa discussed the form military institutions would take

during a meeting with armed factions on Saturday, state news

agency SANA said.



Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said last week that

the defence ministry would be restructured using former rebel

factions and officers who defected from Assad's army.