Syria's new rulers appoint foreign and defense ministers

Syria's new rulers have appointed foreign and defense ministers with links to the group that toppled President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group, or HTS, is believed to be taking the initiative in forming a new cabinet of the interim government.

On Saturday, Assad Hassan al-Shibani was named foreign minister. He previously worked with the political department of an HTS-related group.

He also studied in Türkiye. Reuters news agency and other media say the newly appointed defense minister is Murhaf Abu Qasra, a senior HTS figure.

On Saturday, Syria's state-run news agency published a photo of the new defense minister and Golani meeting with leaders of armed groups. The report said they discussed forming new government forces.