Syrian Factions Appoint Ahmad Al-Sharaa as Transitional Leader

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on January 29, 2025, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa giving a speech in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)
A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on January 29, 2025, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa giving a speech in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)
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Syrian Factions Appoint Ahmad Al-Sharaa as Transitional Leader

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on January 29, 2025, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa giving a speech in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)
A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on January 29, 2025, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa giving a speech in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)

The new Syrian administration announced on Wednesday the appointment of Ahmad Al-Sharaa as interim president, following the overthrow of former president Bashar Al-Assad more than a month ago.

Al-Sharaa has been entrusted with forming a legislative council to oversee the transition after the dissolution of the People’s Assembly and the suspension of the 2012 Constitution.

According to the official Syrian news agency (SANA), military administration spokesperson Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani stated that Al-Sharaa would assume the functions of the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic and represent it in international forums.

He added that Al-Sharaa had been authorized to form a temporary legislative council that would remain in place until a permanent constitution is drafted and enacted, with all exceptional laws suspended.

The announcement did not specify the duration of the transitional period or provide details on the national dialogue conference, which the new administration had previously pledged to organize. However, the administration introduced significant political and security reforms, including the dissolution of all security agencies affiliated with the former Assad regime and the establishment of a new security institution.

The Baath Party and all other National Progressive Front parties were also disbanded, along with their affiliated organizations and committees. A ban was imposed on reestablishing these parties under any new name, and their assets were transferred to the state. Additionally, all military factions, revolutionary political bodies, and civil organizations were merged into state institutions.

Speaking at the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, Al-Sharaa outlined his priorities, emphasizing the need to fill the power vacuum, maintain civil peace, build state institutions, revive the economy, and restore Syria’s regional and international standing.

He described Damascus as a wounded and humiliated mother, bleeding yet defiant, calling on her people to save their nation. He stressed that while liberation was a crucial step, the true challenge now lay in rebuilding and advancing Syria.

Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani underscored the administration’s commitment to establishing a Syria founded on freedom, justice, and national dignity, where all citizens feel a deep sense of belonging and sacrifice for their homeland.

He emphasized that the new leadership was focused on reassuring the international community and clearly presenting Syria’s vision for the future. Strengthening ties with Arab nations and enhancing regional cooperation were also key priorities, alongside efforts to contribute to peace in a region weighed down by decades of conflict.

Al-Shibani further announced that the administration had successfully negotiated exceptions and suspensions to US and EU sanctions, a move expected to accelerate Syria’s economic recovery and attract international support.



Libya Says UK to Analyze Black Box from Crash That Killed General

Military personnel carry portraits of the Libyan chief of staff, General Mohamed al-Haddad (2-R), and his four advisers, who were killed in a plane crash in Türkiye, during an official repatriation ceremony at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tripoli, Libya, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Military personnel carry portraits of the Libyan chief of staff, General Mohamed al-Haddad (2-R), and his four advisers, who were killed in a plane crash in Türkiye, during an official repatriation ceremony at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tripoli, Libya, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
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Libya Says UK to Analyze Black Box from Crash That Killed General

Military personnel carry portraits of the Libyan chief of staff, General Mohamed al-Haddad (2-R), and his four advisers, who were killed in a plane crash in Türkiye, during an official repatriation ceremony at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tripoli, Libya, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Military personnel carry portraits of the Libyan chief of staff, General Mohamed al-Haddad (2-R), and his four advisers, who were killed in a plane crash in Türkiye, during an official repatriation ceremony at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tripoli, Libya, 27 December 2025. (EPA)

Libya said on Thursday that Britain had agreed to analyze the black box from a plane crash in Türkiye on December 23 that killed a Libyan military delegation, including the head of its army.

General Mohammed al-Haddad and four aides died after a visit to Ankara, with Turkish officials saying an electrical failure caused their Falcon 50 jet to crash shortly after takeoff.

Three crew members, two of them French, were also killed.

The aircraft's black box flight recorder was found on farmland near the crash site.

"We coordinated directly with Britain for the analysis" of the black box, Mohamed al-Chahoubi, transport minister in the Government of National Unity (GNU), said at a press conference in Tripoli.

Haddad was very popular in Libya despite deep divisions between west and east.

Haddad was chief of staff for the Tripoli-based GNU.

Chahoubi told AFP a request for the analysis was "made to Germany, which demanded France's assistance" to examine the aircraft's flight recorders.

"However, the Chicago Convention stipulates that the country analyzing the black box must be neutral," he said.

"Since France is a manufacturer of the aircraft and the crew was French, it is not qualified to participate. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, was accepted by Libya and Turkey."

After meeting the British ambassador to Tripoli on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Taher al-Baour said a joint request had been submitted by Libya and Türkiye to Britain "to obtain technical and legal support for the analysis of the black box".

Chahoubi told Thursday's press briefing that Britain "announced its agreement, in coordination with the Libyan Ministry of Transport and the Turkish authorities".

He said it was not yet possible to say how long it would take to retrieve the flight data, as this depended on the state of the black box.

"The findings will be made public once they are known," Chahoubi said, warning against "false information" and urging the public not to pay attention to rumors.


STC Says Handing over Positions to National Shield Forces in Yemen's Hadhramaut, Mahra

National Shield forces in Hadhramaut. (National Shield forces)
National Shield forces in Hadhramaut. (National Shield forces)
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STC Says Handing over Positions to National Shield Forces in Yemen's Hadhramaut, Mahra

National Shield forces in Hadhramaut. (National Shield forces)
National Shield forces in Hadhramaut. (National Shield forces)

Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Yemen began on Thursday handing over military positions to the government’s National Shield forces in the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in eastern Yemen.

Local sources in Hadhramaut confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the handover kicked off after meetings were held between the two sides.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources said the National Shield commanders met with STC leaderships to discuss future arrangements. The sourced did not elaborate, but they confirmed that Emirati armored vehicles, which had entered Balhaf port in Shabwah were seen departing on a UAE vessel, in line with a Yemeni government request.

The National Shield is overseen by Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi.

A Yemeni official described Thursday’s developments as “positive” step towards uniting ranks and legitimacy against a common enemy – the Houthi groups.

The official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, underscored to Asharq Al-Awsat the importance of “partnership between components of the legitimacy and of dialogue to resolve any future differences.”

Meanwhile, on the ground, Yemeni military sources revealed that some STC forces had refused to quit their positions, prompting the forces to dispatch an official to Hadhramaut’s Seiyun city to negotiate the situation.


One Dead as Israeli Forces Open Fire on West Bank Stone-Throwers

Israeli troops during a military operation in the Palestinian village of Qabatiya, near the West Bank city of Jenin, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Israeli troops during a military operation in the Palestinian village of Qabatiya, near the West Bank city of Jenin, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
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One Dead as Israeli Forces Open Fire on West Bank Stone-Throwers

Israeli troops during a military operation in the Palestinian village of Qabatiya, near the West Bank city of Jenin, 27 December 2025. (EPA)
Israeli troops during a military operation in the Palestinian village of Qabatiya, near the West Bank city of Jenin, 27 December 2025. (EPA)

The Israeli military said its forces killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank in the early hours on Thursday as they opened fire on people who were throwing stones at soldiers.

Two other people were hit on a main ‌road near the ‌village of Luban ‌al-Sharqiya ⁠in Nablus, ‌the military statement added. It described the people as militants and said the stone-throwing was part of an ambush.

Palestinian authorities in the West Bank said ⁠a 26-year-old man they named as ‌Khattab Al Sarhan was ‍killed and ‍another person wounded.

Israeli forces had ‍closed the main entrance to the village of Luban al-Sharqiya, in Nablus, and blocked several secondary roads on Wednesday, the Palestinian Authority's official news agency WAFA reported.

More ⁠than a thousand Palestinians were killed in the West Bank between October 2023 and October 2025, mostly in operations by security forces and some by settler violence, the UN has said.

Over the same period, 57 Israelis were killed ‌in Palestinian attacks.