Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria and head of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been declared president for a transitional phase, consolidating his authority less than two months after leading a campaign that toppled Bashar al-Assad.
The announcement, made by the military command that led the offensive against Assad, also suspended the Syrian constitution and granted Sharaa the power to form a temporary legislative council. The previous parliament, elected under Assad, was formally dissolved.
The decisions emerged from a gathering of military commanders who took part in the assault. Addressing the conference, Sharaa outlined his priorities for Syria’s future, stressing the need to fill the political vacuum “legitimately and legally.”
He emphasised the importance of preserving civil peace through transitional justice while preventing acts of revenge.
Additionally, he called for the rebuilding of state institutions—particularly the military and security forces—and the development of the country’s economic infrastructure.
Sharaa has pledged to oversee a political transition that includes a national conference, the formation of an inclusive government, and eventual elections, which he has suggested could take up to four years.
However, Wednesday’s announcement did not specify when the new legislative body would be established or provide a detailed timeline for the transition.
Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, said the declaration had “formalised his status as the strongman ruler.” He added, “My take is that HTS and Sharaa intend to consolidate single-party Islamist rule.”
HTS, which spearheaded the military campaign against Assad, was formerly known as the Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the Syrian civil war until it severed ties in 2016.
The declaration stated that Sharaa would “carry out the duties of the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic and represent it in international forums.”
The new legislative council is expected to function until a new constitution is adopted.
Additionally, the declaration reiterated earlier steps to dissolve Assad’s Baath Party and his state security apparatus. Rebel factions that fought Assad over the past 13 years are also to be disbanded and merged into state forces.
The announcements were made at an event titled “The Conference for Announcing the Victory of the Syrian Revolution,” which was attended by ministers from the interim government appointed by HTS in December. The gathering was not publicly disclosed beforehand.
Qatar, a key backer of the new administration, welcomed the move, issuing a statement praising efforts “to restructure the Syrian state and boost consensus and unity among all its parties.”
However, analysts have raised concerns over the direction of Syria’s new leadership. Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center described the announcement as “a raw translation of Sharaa’s newfound power and military control of great parts of Syria, including the capital.”
He warned that it “does not reflect the political, religious, and ethnic diversity of Syria.”