Syria’s president appoints senior officials to security posts

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Sunday issued a series of presidential decisions appointing senior officials to key national security and intelligence positions, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

Under the decisions, Interior Minister Anas Khattab was appointed director of the National Security Office while retaining his current role as interior minister.

Hussein al-Salamah was appointed deputy director of the National Security Office, according to the decisions.

President al-Sharaa also named Mulham al-Shantout as assistant interior minister for security affairs.

In a separate appointment, Abdul Qader Tahan was named head of Syria’s General Intelligence Service.

The appointments are part of an ongoing restructuring of Syria’s security institutions under the transitional government led by President al-Sharaa.

Since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria’s transitional authorities have undertaken a broad overhaul of the country’s military, security and intelligence institutions. The new leadership has sought to consolidate multiple security bodies under a unified command while replacing senior officials from the former government with figures aligned with the transitional administration. The reforms have been presented as part of efforts to restructure the state, improve internal security and strengthen oversight of intelligence agencies during Syria’s political transition.

By Jwan Shekaki