Syria’s Assad Fires His PM Amid Worsening Economic Crisis

People ride a motorcycle along a street in a deserted area in the town of Ariha, about 13 kilometres south of Idlib in the northwestern Syrian Idlib province on Feb. 7, 2020, Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images

DAMASCUS, Syria—Syrian President Bashar Assad on June 11 fired his prime minister, a month ahead of elections, as the economic crisis worsens and public anger rises in the territory under his control.

Assad also appointed the current public works and housing minister to replace Imad Khamis, who had been the premier since 2016. The Syrian president asked Hussein Arnous to replace Khamis as interim premier until Parliament elections are held in July and a new government comes in.