Syrian authorities appoint security chiefs in 12 provinces, Rojava chiefly excluded

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian interior ministry announced on Sunday the appointment of commanders for internal security agencies in a dozen provinces. The move is part of the interim authority’s broader effort to restructure the country’s security and military institutions following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Notably, the appointments largely excluded Kurdish-held areas in northeast Syria (Rojava).

The ministry published the names and photos of 12 officers of various senior ranks, including brigadier generals and colonels, on its account on X. It announced their appointment as heads of internal security leadership in 12 out of Syria’s 14 provinces.

However, no details were provided regarding the selection criteria or background of the appointees.

Notably, several of the newly-assigned officers are believed to have previously served in Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded the offensive to topple the Baathist regime in early December.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Hasakah and Raqqa, located in northeast and north Syria respectively, were conspicuously absent from the list of appointments. These regions remain under the control of the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES).

Despite negotiations between DAANES and the new leadership in Damascus, the two sides have yet to reach a final agreement with regards to the future governance and security arrangements in these strategically significant territories.

In addition to the provincial security shake-up, the interior ministry also announced the appointment of six deputy interior ministers, assigned to oversee security, civil, and administrative portfolios.

The new efforts are seen as part of a broader strategy to consolidate governance structures under the transitional authority led by Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Sharaa, a former HTS figurehead, assumed the presidency in January after his group led the offensive to oust Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Shortly after assuming power, the new leadership dissolved the Syrian army and all intelligence and security agencies affiliated with the previous regime, signaling a drastic break from the Assad-era security architecture.

However, the Damascus authorities’ push for reform has not been far from controversy.

In late December, military promotions approved by the new authorities included at least six foreign militants, which drew sharp criticism both domestically and internationally.

The presence and promotion of foreign fighters among Damascus’s forces has stood out as a contentious issue, particularly in light of Syria’s ongoing reintegration into regional diplomacy.

Earlier this month, during a meeting with Syria’s interim President in Riyadh, US President Donald Trump urged Sharaa to “expel all foreign terrorists” as a precondition for full normalization. The demand came shortly after Trump had announced his intent to lift sanctions imposed on Syria.

Observers note that Sharaa is increasingly facing a difficult balancing act. While dependent on foreign militants who fought alongside opposition groups, he also confronts international pressure to exclude them and the refusal of many of their home countries to accept their return.