
The newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. Photo courtesy of Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs X account.
Shaibani, a co-founder of Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Nusra Front) alongside HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani—who has since revealed his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, after ousting Bashar al-Assad earlier this month—hails from the village of Abu Rasin in Syria's Hasakah countryside.
Over the years, Shaibani has used several aliases and lived in Turkey until 2024. He is known for his crucial role as the head of HTS's Political Affairs Department. He manages relations between HTS and international entities, including engaging with UN officials and diplomats to facilitate humanitarian efforts in northwestern Syria during the Syrian civil war.
Recently, the new Syrian authorities made several key appointments, including naming Azam Gharib, commander of al-Jabhah al-Shamiyah (Levant Front), who goes by the nom de guerre "Abu Al-Izz Saraqib," as the governor of Aleppo.
Shaibani's appointment as Foreign Minister marks a significant shift as he steps into the public eye under his real name. In this new role, he is expected to focus on rebuilding Syria's relations with regional countries and restarting dialogue with international actors.
Born in 1987, Shaibani was raised in Damascus after his family relocated there. He graduated from Damascus University in 2009 with a degree in English language and literature and became involved in the Syrian revolution in 2011.
A founder of the HTS-backed Syrian Salvation Government, he also worked to strengthen humanitarian relations, establishing critical links with the UN and its agencies.
Shaibani holds a master's degree in political science and international relations from Turkey and is pursuing a PhD in the same field. He has also completed the final stage of an MBA from the American University.
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