Assad's PM says he has agreed to hand over power to rebels

According to the source, there was an overnight meeting between the main rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, and Assad’s PM, Mohammed Jalali, and Vice-president Faisal Mekdad, discussing arrangements for a transitional government. Later, on Monday, Jalali told Al Arabiya TV about his agreement to 12handing over power to the rebel ‘Salvation Govt’.

A statement on the rebel's Telegram channels reads: "Golani, now calling himself Ahmed-al-Sharaa, met with Jalali to coordinate a transfer of power that guarantees the provision of services to the people of Syria."

It is seen in a short clip that Mohammed al-Bashir also attended the meeting who is the Northwest Syria bastion head of the rebel ‘Salvation Govt’.

In the video, Golani is heard telling the outgoing PM that even though 'Idlib is a little area having no resources', the authorities there 'have levels of experience that are high after starting it all with nothing'.

Bashir is the most popular choice as the PM candidate in the transitional administration. Bashir administered a small pocket of territory captured by the rebels previous to the lightning offensive which swept into Damascus.

As per a profile on the Facebook page of the Salvation Govt, Bashir was born in 1983, in Idlib province. He was the director of sharia education in the Ministry of religious endowments and held an important role in the Development and Humanitarian affairs ministry. In 2007, he got a degree in electrical engineering from Aleppo University, and in 2021, another degree in sharia and law from Idlib University. Since 2017, the Salvation Government has facilitated ministries, judicial, and security structures for the people who were cut off from government services.