Syria’s New Authorities Announce Dissolution of Armed Groups Under Defense Ministry
On December 24, Syrian authorities in Damascus declared an agreement with all armed groups for their dissolution and integration into the Defense Ministry. Ahmad al-Chareh, the new leader, emphasized that no weapons would escape state control. This follows a recent power shift where the radical group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmad al-Chareh, ousted President Bashar al-Assad on December 8. The military chief of HTS highlighted the need for all factions to dissolve, starting with their own, to form a unified military institution.