Major GeneralMurhaf Abu Qasra (Arabic: مرهف أبو قصرة) also known by his nom de guerreAbu Hassan al-Hamawi[a] and Abu Hassan 600[b] is a Syrian politician and military commander who is currently serving as the 19th minister of Defense in the Syrian transitional government since 21 December 2024. His appointment comes as part of a broader effort to institutionalise and unify the military forces of the former Syrian opposition.[1]
Early life and education
Abu Qasra holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering. Before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, he worked in his field of study. With the escalation of the conflict, he utilized his engineering expertise to support the armed opposition.[1]
Career
Abu Qasra emerged as a prominent figure in the military efforts of the opposition forces. He served as a military capabilities engineer, organizing and leading operations in opposition-held areas. Over the years, he gained recognition for his role in coordinating and executing key military strategies. As a senior figure of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, he carried the nom de guerre Abu Hassan 600 or Abu Hassan al-Hamwi.[2] As the head of HTS’ military wing, Abu Qasra was responsible for the creation HTS’ drone unit, the Shaheen Brigades, which were named by Abu Qasra himself. He was also one of the key ringleaders in the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives.[3]
Minister of Defense
On 21 December 2024, Abu Qasra was appointed Minister of Defense by the transitional leadership,[4] with the announcement made by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the General Commander of the Military Operations Command. The appointment came with significant talks to merge all opposition factions into a single institution under the Ministry of Defense, marking a turning point in efforts to unify military operations in post-Assad Syria.[1] On 29 December, Ahmed Al-Sharaa announced the promotion of several officers, including Abu Qasra, who was elevated to the rank of Major-General.[5]
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