Syria's new rulers have appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency which toppled Bashar al-Assad, as defence minister in the interim government, an official source said on Saturday.

Syrian authorities name HTS commander as defence minister

Earlier on Saturday, the ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said



Syrian leader al-Sharra leads the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that swept Bashar al-Assad from power earlier this month, ending the family's 50-year-long iron-fisted rule.



West Asia crisis: US diplomats have 'positive meeting' with new Syrian leader

A delegation of US diplomats, who arrived in Syria on Friday (Dec 20), had a "positive" meeting with the country's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, aka Abu Mohammad al-Julani.

The FT uncovered documents revealing that Assad’s regime, while suffering a severe shortage of foreign currency, flew nearly two tonnes of cash, consisting of $100 bills and €500 notes, to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport for deposit in sanctioned Russian banks between 2018 and 2019.



Syrian conflict: Assad secretly ‘airlifted’ $250 million to Moscow before fleeing to Russia - Report

Bashar al-Assad’s central bank transported approximately $250 million in cash to Moscow over a two-year period, according to a report by the Financial Times. The FT uncovered documents revealing that Assad’s regime, while suffering a severe shortage of foreign currency, flew nearly two tonnes of cash, consisting of $100 bills and €500 notes, to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport for deposit in sanctioned Russian banks between 2018 and 2019.

Reacting to the development, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani of HTS told Syrian state media, “There are no excuses for any foreign intervention in Syria now after the Iranians have left. We are not in the process of engaging in a conflict with Israel.”



West Asia crisis: Israel strikes Syria overnight, rebel leader warns of 'unwarranted escalation'

Israel launched a series of airstrikes on multiple sites in Syria overnight, despite the Syrian rebel leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, saying that his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has no interest in engaging in conflict with Israel.

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Syrian authorities name HTS commander as defence minister

Syrian authorities name HTS commander as defence minister

West Asia crisis: US diplomats have 'positive meeting' with new Syrian leader

West Asia crisis: US diplomats have 'positive meeting' with new Syrian leader

Syrian conflict: Assad secretly ‘airlifted’ $250 million to Moscow before fleeing to Russia - Report

Syrian conflict: Assad secretly ‘airlifted’ $250 million to Moscow before fleeing to Russia - Report

West Asia crisis: Israel strikes Syria overnight, rebel leader warns of 'unwarranted escalation'

West Asia crisis: Israel strikes Syria overnight, rebel leader warns of 'unwarranted escalation'