Leader of Rebels Who Toppled Assad Is Named Syria’s Interim President

Syria's de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, walks in the presidential palace ahead of his meeting with Walid Ellafi, Libyan minister of state for communication and political affairs, in Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 28, 2024. Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP Photo

DAMASCUS, Syria—The Syrian factions that toppled President Bashar Assad last month named an Islamist former rebel leader as the country‘s interim president on Wednesday in a push to project a united front as they face the monumental task of rebuilding Syria after nearly 14 years of civil war.

The former insurgents also threw out Syria’s constitution, adopted under Assad, saying a new charter would be drafted soon.