Ahmad Al-Shara’ Issues Seven Decrees, Appoints New Ministers and Governors in Syria

In Syria, the president signed a decree recognizing the national rights of the Kurds after negotiations orchestrated by the United States, as the Forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS) withdrew from territories to the west of the Euphrate where they had been for more than a year following the fall of Bachar Al-Assad.

“L’ordre du jour de cette réunion comportait les points suivants : A/ Ordonnances et Décrets B/ Mesures individuelles C/ Présentation de Communications D/ Divers A/- Ordonnances et Décrets 1-Au titre du Ministère d’Etat, Ministère de l’Intérieur, en liaison avec le Ministère auprès du Président de la République, chargé de la Défense Sur présentation du Ministre d’Etat, le Président de la République a signé un décret portant organisation de la sécurité des hautes personnalités et les modalités de leurs déplacements”

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The fighting around Deir Hafer and Maskana unfolded as residents fled from villages declared zone militaire fermée by the Syrian authorities, with Abou Khaled saying, "We had fear because the FDS put mines everywhere and have snipers."

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The Le Monde report also describes a Thursday humanitarian corridor for evacuating civilians toward government zones, and it says that Friday evening Syrian authorities massed more than 25 000 men on the front line before beginning to bombard FDS positions with artillery.

In parallel, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara’ issued seven presidential decrees on Saturday, May 9, 2026, including appointments in ministerial portfolios and in sovereign positions under the presidency, according to صو ت الإمارات.

The same decrees package, as described by جريدة القدس, included appointing Abdul Rahman Badr al-Din al-Aama as Secretary General of the Presidency, with Maher al-Sharaa leaving the post he held since the formation of the new administration.

Abou Khaled, an inhabitant of Deir Hafer who fled with his wife and six children, described how the FDS stopped them at a barrage and said, "Elles ne nous ont pas laissés passer."

The Le Monde report adds that the FDS denied preventing the departure of residents to use them as human shields, while Syrian authorities accused the FDS of doing so.

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In Damascus, the decrees were presented as changes to ministerial portfolios and governors, with Al Jazeera Net citing that Decree No. 100 of 2026 appointed Khaled Fawaz Za'arour as Minister of Information, replacing Hamza Al-Mustafa.

Al Jazeera Net also said Decree No. 101 appointed Basil Hafez Al-Suwaidan as Minister of Agriculture, replacing Amjed Badir, and it reported the appointment of Abdul Rahman Badr al-Din al-A'ma as Secretary General of the Presidency.

Meanwhile, جريدة القدس framed the reforms as part of reorganizing official institutions and boosting governmental performance during the current phase, including a reshuffle and appointments within provincial governor ranks.

The Le Monde report says more than 13 000 civilians fled to government zone before combats engaged, and it describes Syrian authorities massing more than 25 000 men on the line of front before artillery bombardment.

“Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends the Ministry of Awqaf conference titled 'Unity of Islamic Discourse' at the Conference Palace in Damascus, Syria, February 16, 2026”

Al-Jazeera Net

It also says the humanitarian corridor was set up on Thursday to evacuate civilians toward government zones, and it notes that residents feared a war between the Syrian army and the FDS.

In the administrative track, the decrees described by صو ت الإمارات aimed at modernizing government institutions and boosting the efficiency of administrative and field performance, including appointing Ghassan Elias as governor of Quneitra and Ziad Fawaz al-Ayash as governor of Deir ez-Zor.

جريدة القدس similarly said the presidential decrees appointed new governors for Quneitra, Latakia, and Deir ez-Zor, and it tied the changes to the transitional government that took shape in March 2025 after the major political shift in December 2024.

Together, the sources portray a dual trajectory in Syria: battlefield movements around Deir Hafer and Maskana alongside a presidential decree process that reshuffles ministries and provincial leadership.