Assad Forms New Syrian Government, Appoints Ex-Foreign Minister as VP

President Bashar al-Assad's new cabinet includes key changes in foreign affairs, finance, and electricity ministries.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree forming a new government under Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali.
Ex-foreign minister Faisal Mekdad has been appointed as Syria's Vice President for foreign and information policies.
New appointments were made in the ministries of foreign affairs, finance, and electricity, while defense and interior ministries remained unchanged.
Bassam Sabbagh, previously a deputy to Mekdad, is the newly appointed foreign minister.
Al-Jalali, the new prime minister, has been under EU sanctions since 2014 for his role in the regime's violent repression of civilians during Syria's civil conflict.