The Daily Star Ireland
Syria’s new interim prime minister has set ambitious goals to repatriate millions of Syrian refugees, safeguard all citizens, and provide essential services despite significant financial challenges due to a lack of foreign currency. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, he highlighted the dire state of the economy, noting that a single US dollar now exchanges for 35,000 Syrian pounds, and the country has virtually no foreign currency reserves or clear data on loans and bonds.
Mohammed al-Bashir, who previously led the rebel-run Salvation government in a small area of northwestern Syria, took office after a swift 12-day rebel offensive that culminated in the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. The United States has engaged with the rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), urging them to ensure an inclusive process in forming a transitional government rather than assuming unilateral control.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the new government’s need to respect minority rights, facilitate humanitarian aid, and prevent Syria from becoming a terrorist haven or threat to its neighbors. HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, has recently downplayed its jihadist past.
In a televised address, Bashir announced he would lead the interim government until March 1. He spoke against a backdrop featuring two flags: the opposition flag used throughout the civil war and a flag with the Islamic oath, common among Sunni Islamist fighters in Syria.
Rebuilding Syria is a monumental task after a civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, left cities in ruins, depopulated large areas, and devastated the economy with international sanctions. Millions of refugees remain in camps after one of the largest displacements in modern history. Some refugees, including those from Turkey, have started returning home, encouraged by changes in European asylum policies.
Ala Jabeer, returning from Turkey with his daughter after losing his wife and three children in last year’s earthquakes, expressed hope for a better future without Assad’s oppression. His primary motivation for returning is to reunite with his mother in Latakia, who can care for his daughter while he works.
In Damascus, normalcy is slowly returning. Banks and shops have reopened, traffic has resumed, and there are fewer armed men on the streets. US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer stated that Washington is still determining its engagement strategy with the rebel groups, and the US counter-terrorism mission in northeastern Syria will continue.
The US has yet to decide on changing HTS’s designation as a terrorist organization, which currently prevents American assistance. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed caution, citing past instances where militant groups failed to honor their commitments to inclusivity and minority rights. The US has also prioritized seeking HTS’s help in locating and freeing American journalist Austin Tice, kidnapped in Syria in 2012.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have targeted Syrian army bases, with Israel claiming to have struck most of Syria’s strategic weapons stockpiles. Israel aims to establish a “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria, enforced without a permanent troop presence. Although Israel’s actions have been condemned by several countries, including Turkey and Egypt, Israel insists its intervention is temporary.
UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen has noted the positive signals from HTS and other armed groups, suggesting a willingness to work with them despite their terrorist designation.
Al-Bashir, primarily known within Idlib province, where rebels maintained an administration during the civil war, is relatively unknown outside this region. His background includes training as an electrical engineer, a degree in sharia and law, and various posts in education.
The mood in Damascus remains celebratory as refugees start to return. Anas Idrees, a refugee for much of the war, traveled from Lebanon to Syria and enjoyed a nostalgic visit to the famous Bakdash ice cream parlor in old Damascus, where he found the ice cream’s taste changed by his newfound happiness.
