Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has appointed three young deputy foreign ministers as part of efforts to restructure state institutions, breaking with a longstanding tradition of reserving senior diplomatic posts for seasoned officials.
The appointments come as many diplomats who defected from the former regime are still awaiting the resolution of their employment status.
The changes have sparked debate in political circles in Damascus over appointments to senior positions in key ministries, amid unconfirmed reports of a possible cabinet reshuffle involving sensitive portfolios and the reassignment of prominent officials.
Wael Alwan, a researcher and executive director of the Jusoor Center for Studies, told Asharq Al-Awsat that there was speculation about Interior Minister Anas Khattab taking over as head of National Security, with Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader al-Tahhan potentially succeeding him.
“There is similar talk concerning the Defense Ministry, but no precise information is available so far,” Alwan said.
He added that he had no knowledge of reports suggesting Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani might be moved to another position.
An Unprecedented Move
On Saturday, al-Sharaa issued three presidential decrees, numbered 205, 206 and 207 of 2026, appointing deputy foreign ministers responsible for consular affairs, international cooperation and executive affairs, respectively.
The appointment of three deputies simultaneously is unprecedented in Syria’s diplomatic history and signals a departure from an administrative structure that has prevailed for decades.
Traditionally, the Foreign Ministry has had two permanent assistant ministers overseeing diplomatic, political and administrative affairs, alongside a deputy foreign minister.
A third assistant was occasionally appointed under exceptional circumstances, while specialized responsibilities were sometimes assigned to advisers. The two-assistant structure, however, remained the norm.
Alwan described the latest appointments as a restructuring of the ministry.
“The country’s new administration is not bound by established practices. It is completely separate from the previous system of government,” he explained.
Ordinarily, senior officials would be selected through institutional promotion, established career paths or extensive diplomatic experience, he noted.
“In a transitional government, however, things are different. Trust, in the sense of loyalty, takes precedence over competence,” Alwan said, attributing the controversial approach largely to security considerations.
Asked whether experienced diplomats who defected from the former regime could be brought back into senior positions, he acknowledged that this was possible but not essential.
Priority, he stressed, would go to trust and alignment with the current administration’s approach.
Young Appointees with Limited Experience
The three newly appointed officials were born between 1988 and 1996 and have backgrounds in public policy, law, international cooperation and administration.
Muhammad Yaqub al-Omar, born in Idlib in 1993, was appointed deputy foreign minister for consular affairs.
According to local media, he holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Idlib, a bachelor’s degree in political science from Al-Shamal University, and a degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Idlib.
Qutaiba Ali Kadish, born in Damascus in 1988, was named deputy foreign minister for international cooperation.
A law graduate of Damascus University, Kadish previously headed the Foreign Ministry’s international cooperation and protocol departments.
He also served as deputy minister of development and humanitarian affairs in the Syrian Salvation Government and directed its humanitarian and development projects department.
Obadah Khaled Diab, born in Damascus in 1996, was appointed deputy foreign minister for executive affairs.
He holds an executive master’s degree in development policies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and a bachelor’s degree in foreign service, specializing in international economics, from Georgetown University.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Diab previously headed the foreign minister’s office and directed the ministry’s strategic planning office.
His professional background also includes work as an information management and labor market research expert at Qatar’s Ministry of Labor and as a data specialist at the Center for Humanitarian Data of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Despite the Foreign Ministry’s decision to reinstate diplomats who defected from the former regime, and the appointment of several to head diplomatic missions in regional and international capitals, many cases remain unresolved.
A substantial number are still awaiting the settlement of their employment status and the completion of administrative reviews.
Peace Adviser Appointment Sparks Debate
The presidential appointments came alongside a separate decision by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to name broadcaster Muzna Mamdouh al-Atrash, a native of Sweida, as an adviser for peace affairs.
Some viewed the appointment as a potential boost to national reconciliation efforts, particularly those concerning Sweida.
Others criticized the creation of what they described as a vaguely defined position covering “peace affairs.”
Critics also cited al-Atrash’s previous political positions, noting that she had supported former President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian army’s actions during her work at state television.
