Syria unveils new transitional government, excluding Kurds again

DAMASCUS,— A new transitional government was sworn in on Saturday in Syria, marking a key political shift nearly four months after the Assad family was ousted from power.

The new leadership in Damascus is tasked with stabilizing a country devastated by more than a decade of war.

The 23-member Cabinet, made up of a mix of religious and ethnic backgrounds, replaces the interim government that was established shortly after Bashar al-Assad was removed from office in December 2024. The new administration will oversee Syria’s five-year transitional period.

Despite international calls for a more inclusive government, Kurdish representation was once again excluded from the Cabinet. Officials from Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), along with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish region’s autonomous civil administration were not included in the new government, despite their control over more than a quarter of Syria’s territory.

The absence comes just weeks after a breakthrough agreement between SDF commander General Mazloum Abdi and interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The deal, signed in Damascus, aimed to integrate the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces into the Syrian army as part of a national ceasefire.

The transitional government does not have a prime minister. Instead, a secretary general will lead under a temporary constitution signed by al-Sharaa earlier this month.

Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has a background linked to jihadist movements, including al-Qaeda and ISIS, before he went on to establish the al-Nusra Front, which later rebranded as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Tensions remain high following deadly violence earlier this month along Syria’s western coast, where hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed. The Alawite sect, from which former President Assad hails, has been a central force in Syria’s politics for decades.

The newly appointed government consists of mostly fresh faces, with the exception of the foreign and defense ministers, who retained their posts from the interim administration. Anas Khattab, who formerly led Syria’s intelligence services, has been named interior minister.

“The formation of this government is a step toward rebuilding a new Syrian state,” al-Sharaa said during the swearing-in ceremony.

Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra outlined his priority as establishing a professional military force, emphasizing it should be “for the people and by the people.”

Among the new Cabinet members is Hind Kabawat, a longtime Christian activist who opposed Assad’s rule from the start of the conflict in 2011.

She has been appointed as the minister of social affairs and labor. Raed Saleh, former head of the Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, will serve as the minister for emergency disaster response.

Mohammed Terko, a Damascus-based Syrian Kurd, has been given the education portfolio.

Islamist Mohammed al-Bashir, who led the interim government since Assad’s ouster, will now oversee the energy ministry, with a key focus on restoring the country’s war-ravaged electricity and oil sectors.

While the Cabinet is dominated by Sunni officials, it does include representatives from religious minorities, including one Alawite and one woman.

Observers say this is an attempt by al-Sharaa’s administration to appeal to Western nations, which have been pushing for a more inclusive political process.

The government’s formation comes amid efforts to ease international sanctions, which have crippled Syria’s economy for more than a decade.

According to the United Nations, 90% of the Syrian population lives in poverty, and millions face food shortages as humanitarian aid dwindles.

Hours before the government was sworn in, the U.S. State Department issued a security alert, warning American citizens of possible attacks targeting embassies, international organizations, and Syrian government institutions in Damascus during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The advisory mentioned potential threats including armed assaults and explosive devices.

(With files from AP | Reuters | Agencies)