Syrian President Reshuffles Government; Former FM Named Vice President

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree appointing a new government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali. The new cabinet includes changes in key ministries like foreign affairs, finance, and electricity. Additionally, ex-foreign minister Faisal Mekdad has been named as Vice President.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reshuffled his government, appointing Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali as the new Prime Minister, according to the state news agency SANA. The newly-formed cabinet will have new leaders in crucial ministries such as foreign affairs, finance, and electricity, and replaces the outgoing caretaker administration that served post-July parliamentary elections.

In another notable move, ex-foreign minister Faisal Mekdad has been appointed as Syria's Vice President. Al-Jalali, who previously served as communications minister from 2014 to 2016, has been under EU sanctions since 2014 for his alleged involvement in the regime's suppression of civilian dissent.

The country continues to grapple with the repercussions of the civil war, which began as an uprising against Assad's regime in 2011, leading to the deaths of at least 350,000 people, according to U.N. figures.

(With inputs from agencies.)