Sat Dec 21 13:01:12 UTC 2024: ## Syria Names New Foreign Minister After Assad’s Ouster
**Damascus, Syria –** Syria’s new de facto ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has appointed Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as the country’s new Foreign Minister, according to the official Syrian news agency SANA. This appointment, announced on December 21st, 2024, marks a significant step in the new government’s efforts to rebuild international relations following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad two weeks prior.
Al-Sharaa, leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seized control of Damascus on December 8th after more than thirteen years of civil war. The new administration, a three-month caretaker government, is focused on reconstruction and economic development, with al-Sharaa stating his intention to avoid further conflict. While the U.S. previously designated al-Sharaa a terrorist, Washington has announced it will remove a $10 million bounty on his head.
The transition comes after a devastating civil war that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, a massive refugee crisis, and widespread destruction. The international community awaits to see how the new government, led by a figure with a history tied to al-Qaeda, will govern and engage with the global stage. The nature of the new government’s rule – whether it will lean towards strict Islamic law or demonstrate flexibility towards democracy – remains uncertain. Al-Shibani’s appointment is the first major step in determining the new government’s foreign policy direction.
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