Syrian Caretaker Government links
Information on cabinet members, ministries, governors, and state media outlets
Since December 8th, 2024, Syria has been under the de facto control of HTS-leader Ahmad al-Shar‘. Al-Shar‘ has not taken an official position within the Syrian Caretaker Government (Hakumat Tasrif al-A‘mal al-Suriyah) himself but remains ever present as state media as foreign dignitaries continue to visit Damascus. Meanwhile a Prime Minister and cabinet have been appointed, along with governors for nine of Syria’s fourteen governorates. Currently the most visible figures in the new government - aside from al-Shar‘ - include Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasrah, Foreign Minister As‘ad al-Shaibani, and Intelligence chief Anas Khattab.
The vast majority of these figures were previously part of the HTS-affiliated Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) that ran Idlib since 2017. The only other groups currently represented are previously Idlib-based HTS allies Ahrar al-Sham and Suqour al-Sham, whose commanders have been awarded the Rural Damascus and Idlib Governorships respectively, and SNA faction al-Jabhah al-Shamiyah whose commander ‘Azzam Gharib is now the Governor of Aleppo.
Currently at least five governorates remain without governors, including SDF controlled al-Hasakah and al-Raqqah, and the southern provinces of al-Suweida’, Dar‘a, and al-Quneitrah. Meanwhile the Deir ez-Zour governor has reportedly just handed in his resignation.
Below I’ve listed and linked to:
different state run media outlets, including channels for each of the governorates apart from al-Hasakah and al-Raqqah
all known members of cabinet and governors, with information available on the individuals as well as links to the official Facebook and Telegram accounts of the various ministries.
some HTS bodies that might still be relevant.
I plan on updating this post with additional information on personnel and tracking whatever changes occur going forward. It’s unclear how long this Caretaker Government will remain in place but al-Shar‘ has implied it could be years before elections are held.
State media outlets:
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Cabinet
Prime Minister: Muhammad al-Bashir (Syrian Salvation Gov’t/HTS)
b. 1983 in Jabal Zawiyah, Idlib
Minister of Defense: Murhaf Ahmad Abu Qasrah (HTS)
b. 1984 in Halfaya, Hama
MoD, SMI, al-Jazeera
Army Chief of Staff: ‘Ali Nour al-Din al-Na‘san
Director of the General Intelligence Service: Anas Khattab (HTS)
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates: As‘ad Hasan al-Shaibani (SSG/HTS)
b. 1987 in Abu Rassin, al-Hasakah
Minister of the Interior: Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahman (SSG/HTS)
(source) Minister of Justice: Shadi Muhammad al-Waisi (SSG/HTS)
(source) b. 1985 in Aleppo
See France 24, The New Arab, The National, and Verify-Sy on recent controversy regarding 2015 video showing al-Waisi overseeing a woman’s execution
Bio: Long War Journal
Ministry’s social media: Facebook
Minister of Education: Nazir al-Qadri (SSG/HTS)
(source) b. 1970 in Damascus
See FT, NYT, al-Monitor, The New Arab on recent controversy regarding curriculum changes
Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research: ‘Abd al-Mun‘im ‘Abd al-Hafiz (SSG/HTS)
(center) b. 1961 in Ma‘r Shourin, Idlib
Minister of Health: Mahir al-Shar‘ (SSG/HTS)
(source) Minister of Economy & Foreign Trade: Basil ‘Abd al-‘Aziz (SSG/HTS)
(source) Minister of Finance: Muhammad Abazaid
(source) Minister of Domestic Trade & Consumer Protection: Mahir Khalil al-Hasan
(source) Minister of Electricity: ‘Omar Shaqrouq (SSG/HTS)
center (source) Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources: Giyath Diyab
(source) Minister of Water Resources: Usama Abuzaid (SSG/HTS)
(source) Minister of Transport: Baha’ al-Din Sharm
center (source) Minister of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform: Muhammad Taha al-Ahmad (SSG/HTS)
(source) Minister of Information: Muhammad Ya‘qoub al-‘Omar (SSG/HTS)
(source) Minister of Communications & Information Technology: Hussein al-Masri
(source) Minister of al-Awqaf: Hussam Hajj Hussein (SSG/HTS)
left (source) Minister of Local Administration & the Environment: Muhammad Muslim (SSG/HTS)
Ministry’s social media: Telegram
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor: Fadi al-Qasim (SSG/HTS)
(source) Minister of Administrative Development: Fadi al-Qasim?
Governors
Damascus: Mahir Muhammad Marwan (SSG/HTS)
(source) Rural Damascus: ‘Amir al-Sheikh (General Commander of Ahrar al-Sham)
(source) Aleppo: ‘Azzam Gharib (Commander of SNA’s al-Jabhah al-Shamiyah)
center (source) Idlib: Ahmad ‘Isa al-Sheikh (Commander of Suqour al-Sham)
(source) al-Latakia: Muhammad ‘Othman (SSG/HTS)
(source) Tartous: Ahmad al-Shami (SSG/HTS)
(source) Hamah: ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sahyan (HTS)
left (source) Homs: ‘Abd al-Rahman al-A‘ma (SSG/HTS)
center (source) Deir ez-Zour: Hussein al-Salamah* (SSG/HTS)
(source) Reportedly submitted his resignation on 01/07/25
al-Raqqah: NA
al-Hasakah: NA
al-Suweida’: SSG official Mustafa Bakour has been dispatched as “the special envoy of the [Military Operations Administration] General Command,” despite reports that Muhsinah al-Muhaythawi, a Druze woman involved in the local protest movement of the last several years, was appointed. Al-Muhaythawi was nominated by local organizations but the Damascus administration appears not to have sent their envoy instead. Bakour previously worked in the Harim region of Idlib, home to the small Druze population forcibly converted by IS and HTS-predecessor Jabhat al-Nusrah.
(source) 
left (source) Dar ‘a: NA
al-Quneitrah: NA
Other HTS bodies:
General Command (Military Operations Administration)
Military Operations Administration
Political Affairs Administration
Office of Women’s Affairs: A’ishah al-Dibs
Directorate of Sects’ Affairs: Bashir al-‘Ali
E-Clean
Military Media
Additional resources:
See Long War Journal’s short profiles of militant leaders seen meeting with Ahmad al-Shar‘ in Dec, Jan: part one, two.
Holy lord as a researcher this is massively helpful thank you so much!