Published: 20:09, December 24, 2024 | Updated: 20:45, December 24, 2024
Syrian armed groups agree to disband, merge under defense ministry
By Xinhua
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) arrives for a meeting with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on Dec 22, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

DAMASCUS - Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of Syria's de facto governing group and commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), met here with other Syrian military faction chiefs on Tuesday, during which they agreed to dissolve all factions and merge them under a unified defense ministry, Syria's state news agency SANA said in a statement.

The statement did not provide further details on the meeting, nor the agreement.

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The announcement came as Syria navigates a sensitive political transition following the downfall of the previous government on Dec 8.

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A militant alliance led by the HTS waged a major military operation from northern Syria on Nov 27. It swept southwards, captured the capital Damascus, and overthrew former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government within 12 days.