Syria’s new leaders have appointed Murhaf Abu Kasra, a prominent figure among rebels who ousted Bashar al-Assad, as defence minister in the transitional government, an official source said.

Abu Kasra, who also goes by the alias Abu Hassan 600, is a senior figure in the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that heads a coalition that took power in Syria.

He has led numerous military operations during the Syrian civil war, the same source said.

Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sara, discussed “the shape of the military institution in the new Syria” during a meeting with armed factions, state news agency SANA reported.

During the meeting, Abu Kasra was sitting next to Sara, also known by the alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani, according to photos published by SANA.

This week, Prime Minister Mohamed al-Bashir announced the reconstitution of the defence ministry to include former rebels and officers who left Assad’s army.

Bashir, who previously led a government with links to HTS in the northwestern province of Idlib, has said he will lead a three-month caretaker government.

The new government has not announced plans for what happens next.

Earlier, the ruling General Administration appointed Assad Hassan al-Shibani as minister of foreign affairs, SANA reported.

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