This Video Does Not Show the First Meeting of the New Syrian Government

Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.

Misbar's team found that the video was recorded in August 2024 before the fall of the Syrian regime. It depicts insults and fistfights at the Free Lawyers Association in Aleppo, attributed to the actions of the Syrian interim government at that time, according to the Syria TV YouTube channel.

New Syrian Prime Minister Calls for Stability Following Assad's Overthrow

The newly appointed prime minister of Syria's transitional government has stated that it is time for citizens to "enjoy stability and calm" following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. Mohammed al-Bashir, previously the head of the rebel administration in northwestern Syria, spoke to Al Jazeera after being assigned by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies to govern until March 2025.

On Tuesday, Bashir led a meeting in Damascus with members of his new government and former officials from Assad's cabinet to discuss the transfer of responsibilities and institutions. This development coincided with remarks from the U.N. envoy for Syria, who emphasized that the rebels must translate their "good messages" into actionable practices on the ground.

The U.S. Secretary of State also indicated that Washington would recognize and fully support a future Syrian government, provided it emerges from a credible and inclusive process that respects minority rights. Until recently, Mohammed al-Bashir was relatively unknown outside the HTS-controlled regions in Idlib and Aleppo.

His background includes training as an electrical engineer and working at gas plants before the civil war began in 2011. In January, he was appointed prime minister of the Salvation Government (SG), established by HTS to administer the areas under its control. The SG operated similarly to a state, featuring ministries, local departments, and judicial and security authorities, while adhering to a religious council guided by Islamic law.

Approximately four million people, many of whom were displaced from other regions, lived under SG governance. When local institutions ceased to function in Aleppo after HTS and its allies captured the city earlier this month during a rapid offensive, the SG intervened to restore public services. Reports indicate that technicians repaired electricity and telecommunications networks, security forces patrolled the streets, medical personnel volunteered in hospitals, and charities distributed bread.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Rapidly Asserts Control in Post-Assad Syria

Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa's Islamist group is quickly asserting its authority over Syria, mirroring the rapid pace at which it seized control of the country. The group has deployed police, established an interim government, and engaged with foreign envoys, raising concerns about the inclusivity of Damascus' new leadership. 

Following Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group's removal of Bashar al-Assad from power on Sunday as part of a rebel alliance, officials who were previously administering an Islamist regime in a remote area of northwestern Syria have now occupied government offices in Damascus. 

The appointment of Mohammed al-Bashir, who led the regional government in HTS's Idlib enclave, as Syria's new interim prime minister on Monday highlighted HTS's position as the strongest of the armed factions that have fought for over 13 years to overthrow Assad's authoritarian rule.

Although HTS was once affiliated with al-Qaeda before severing ties in 2016, the group has reassured tribal leaders, local officials, and ordinary citizens during its advance to Damascus, promising to protect minority faiths and gaining widespread support. 

This message facilitated the rebels' progress, and Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has continued to emphasize this commitment since Assad's removal.

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