Syria’s Assad appoints new government

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad decreed a new government Tuesday. The government is again headed by Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, the official SANA news outlet reported. 

Assad first appointed Arnous prime minister in June 2020 after sacking his predecessor, Imad Khamis, amid protests about the country’s poor economic situation. Arnous previously served as water resources minister and governor of the eastern province of  Deir ez-Zor. 

Assad asked Arnous to form a cabinet earlier this month. The president was reelected in May to serve a fourth term in office in an election many countries called fraudulent. Assad is the dominant political force in the country irrespective of the governmental Cabinet. 

Most important government posts were unchanged by Tuesday’s decree, according to The Associated Press. Lt. Gen. Ali Abdullah Ayoub remains defense minister, for example.