The Syrian interim government announced on Sunday the formation of a new Defense Ministry and chief of staff command, led by officers who had defected from the Syrian regime.
According to preliminary reports, Gen. Mohammed Faris had been appointed defense minister, while Gen. Salim Idris had been appointed chief of staff, in the first step toward the creation of a unified national army.
The unified army initiative, which dozens of groups have already joined, was proposed about a month ago by the interim government and the Syrian Islamic Council.
Osama Abu Zeid, legal adviser for the Free Syrian Army, said last week on Twitter that, "[interim Prime Minister] Jawad Abu Hatab had been given the defense portfolio and a military council had been formed to advise the Southern Front to build a chief of staff institution for the national army."
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
