HTS leader Appoints Defense Minister in Transitional Syrian Government

Ahmad al-Sharaa meeting with military faction leaders.
Ahmad al-Sharaa meeting with military faction leaders.

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s transitional military operations, appointed engineer Marhaf Abu Qasra as the Acting Minister of Defense in the interim Syrian government.

The decision came following a meeting between al-Sharaa and the leaders of military factions affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies.

Abu Qasra, known by his alias “Abu al-Hassan 600,” hails from Halfaya and is renowned as a military strategist in Idlib. He has been instrumental in designing and leading major military operations in the region.

Previously, he served as the Chief Military Commander of HTS and played a critical role in improving the group’s military capabilities and organizational structure. Abu Qasra was also one of the primary architects behind the “Countering Aggression” military campaign, which saw significant coordination among opposition forces.

This appointment is seen as a strategic move to unify military efforts during the transitional period in Syria, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month.