The “Interim Authority” affiliated with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has appointed Brigadier General Zaher al-Saket, a military defector, as an advisor to the Operations Directorate at the Ministry of Defense, according to media outlets supportive of the authority.
In December 2024, activists circulated a video showing al-Saket—who resides in Belgium—calling for the slaughter of Kurds in Aleppo, sparking widespread outrage across social media platforms.
His remarks coincided with the launch of a Turkish-backed Syrian offensive called “Dawn of Freedom” in northern Aleppo countryside. The operation targeted several areas, including Tell Rifaat, which hosted around 300,000 displaced Kurds from Afrin. The offensive led to the displacement of most of these refugees toward areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria.
Who is Zaher al-Saket?
Zaher al-Saket, originally from Aleppo province, previously served as head of the Chemistry Division in the Syrian Army’s Fifth Division before defecting in early 2013. After his defection, he took command of the Northern Front within the Revolutionary Command Council and managed the Chemical Violations Documentation Center.
Accused Perpetrators in Leadership Positions
Al-Saket’s appointment is not the only controversial one. The Ministry of Defense in the “Interim Authority” has also promoted Mohammad Jassem (Abu Amsha)—commander of the Suleiman Shah Brigade (al-Amshat militia)—to the rank of brigadier general in the Syrian army, assigning him to lead the 25th Division in Hama province. This division was formerly under the command of Suhail al-Hassan prior to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
According to a report by Human Rights Watch, several figures previously implicated in serious human rights violations now occupy senior positions within the newly formed Syrian army, including:
Mohammad Jassem (Abu Amsha) – Commander of the 62nd Division
Saif Boulad (Saif Abu Bakr) – Commander of the 76th Division
Faheem Issa – Deputy Minister of Defense for Northern Affairs
Ahmad al-Hayes (Abu Hatem Shakra) – Commander of the 86th Division in eastern Syria
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