In Damascus, Syria, on Thursday, the interim president approved a temporary constitution, placing the country under Islamist rule for a transitional period of five years. This development follows the overthrow of former President Bashar Assad in December, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This coup has stirred considerable upheaval, with Syria’s interim leaders grappling to establish authority across a nation torn apart by conflict. Ahmad al-Sharaa, once at the helm of HTS, has been declared interim president, a decision arising from consultations among the armed factions involved in the anti-Assad offensive. During the same meeting, the repeal of Syria’s old constitution was agreed upon, with a commitment to draft a new one.
The end of the Assad family’s more than 50-year dictatorial rule was welcomed by some, but skepticism lingers among religious and ethnic minorities regarding the new Islamist leaders. They remain cautious about allowing the reassertion of control over Damascus by these new authorities. Abdulhamid Al-Awak, a constitutional expert from Mardin Artuklu University in Turkey, is part of the seven-member committee assigned by al-Sharaa to draft the temporary document. He highlighted at a news conference that the interim constitution would retain some elements from its predecessor, such as requiring the head of state to be a Muslim and recognizing Islamic law as the primary source of legal interpretations.
The temporary constitution aims to balance social security and freedoms amid Syria’s precarious political climate, including enshrined rights to freedom of expression and media. Yet, the inclusivity of a future permanent constitution remains uncertain, particularly concerning the representation of Syria’s diverse political, religious, and ethnic communities. Al-Sharaa recently reached an important agreement with the Kurdish-led authorities in northeastern Syria, facilitating a ceasefire and integrating their armed forces with the central government’s security operations. This move followed the suppression of an insurgency by pro-Assad forces, resulting in significant civilian casualties, predominantly among the Alawite minority associated with Assad.
A principal aim of this interim constitution is to outline a timeline for Syria’s political transition beyond the interim phase. Al-Sharaa previously indicated that rewriting Syria’s constitution could take up to three years, allowing for national elections over five years. In pursuit of these goals, a committee was initiated to draft the new constitution post a national dialogue conference, an event criticized for its lack of comprehensive representation across Syria’s societal spectrum. Meanwhile, Western nations, including the United States and European countries, have been skeptical about lifting sanctions from Assad’s era. They demand assurances of an inclusive political framework that safeguards the rights of minorities. Al-Sharaa, alongside regional leaders, has urged these nations to reconsider their stance, as Syria’s fragile economy threatens further instability.
In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike targeted an apartment building in Dummar, a suburb of Damascus, injuring three individuals, including one critically. Israeli military sources described the target as a command center for the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which has allegedly orchestrated attacks against Israel. The Israeli Defense Minister warned of continued air force retaliations against terrorist threats within Syria. A member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad noted that the bombed apartment once belonged to the group’s leader, Ziad Nakhaleh, but it has been vacant for years. The airstrike did not result in fatalities, according to the reports from the scene.
