Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the HTS rebel group in Syria, has reached an agreement with other rebel leaders to consolidate their forces within a newly established Defense Ministry. Interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir aims to restructure the ministry with the cooperation of various factions that have fought against the ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, concerns grow over women’s rights under the new regime, following protests sparked by the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, which HTS attributed to foreign fighters.