Murhaf Abu Qasra
Murhaf Abu Qasra | |
|---|---|
| مرهف أبو قصرة | |
| Minister of Defense | |
| Assumed office 21 December 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Mohammed al-Bashir |
| Preceded by | Ali Mahmoud Abbas |
| Commander-in-chief of Military Operations Command | |
| Assumed office 2019 | |
| Leader | Abu Mohammad al-Julani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Halfaya, Hama, Syria |
| Profession | Politician, Engineer |
| Nickname(s) | Abu Hassan al-Hamwi Abu Hassan 600 |
Murhaf Abu Qasra (Arabic: مرهف أبو قصرة) is a Syrian politician and military commander who is serving as the Minister of Defense in the Syrian Transitional Government since 21 December 2024. His appointment comes as part of a broader effort to institutionalize and unify the military forces of the Syrian opposition.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Abu Qasra holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering. Before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, he worked in his field of study. With the escalation of the conflict, he utilized his engineering expertise to support the armed opposition.[1]
Career
[edit]Abu Qasra emerged as a prominent figure in the military efforts of the opposition forces. He served as a military capabilities engineer, organizing and leading operations in opposition-held areas. Over the years, he gained recognition for his role in coordinating and executing key military strategies. As a senior figure of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, he carried the nom de guerre Abu Hassan 600[a] or Abu Hassan al-Hamwi[b].[2] As the head of HTS’ military wing Abu Qasra was responsible for the creation HTS’ drone unit, the Shaheen Brigades, which were named by Abu Qasra himself. He was also one of the key ringleaders in the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives.[3]
On 21 December 2024, Abu Qasra was appointed Minister of Defense by the transitional leadership,[4] with the announcement made by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the General Commander of the Military Operations Command. The appointment came with significant talks to merge all opposition factions into a single institution under the Ministry of Defense, marking a turning point in efforts to unify military operations in post-Assad Syria.[1]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Al-Jolani Appoints Abu Qasra as Minister of Defense and Discusses Merging Factions". Sky News Arabia (in Arabic). 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ "Syria's new rulers name defence, foreign ministers as interim cabinet takes shape". France 24. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ Christou, William (13 December 2024). "Syrian rebels reveal year-long plot that brought down Assad regime". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 December 2024.