Istanbul/ Leith al-Junaidi/ Anadolu

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued on Sunday a package of appointments in the leadership of the National Security Office and the General Intelligence Service.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that al-Sharaa decided to assign Interior Minister Anas Khattab to manage the National Security Office in addition to his current duties.

He also decided to appoint Hussein al-Salama as deputy director of the National Security Office, and Mulhim al-Shantout as deputy interior minister for security affairs.

The decisions also included appointing Abdul Qader Tahan as head of the General Intelligence Service.

The National Security Office oversees all security agencies, while the General Intelligence Service is responsible for gathering information and providing assessments related to national security at home and abroad, as well as counterintelligence and counterterrorism.

The appointments come within the framework of the new Syrian administration's efforts to enhance national security, achieve stability, and remove obstacles to development and reconstruction efforts.

On December 8, 2024, Syrian factions took control of the capital Damascus, ending 61 years of Baath Party rule, including 53 years under the Assad family.