English Bengali Spanish Syria’s de facto leader declares himself president, abolishes constitution Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday abolished the country’s constitution and declared himself president during a meeting of armed factions in Damascus. The former rebel leader will “assume the duties of the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic and represent it in international forums,” commander Hassan Abdelghani said, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. Abdelghani said Sharaa will be president during a “transitional phase,” without clarifying further. Syria’s parliament was also dissolved, Abdelghani said, adding that the president will form a temporary legislative council until a new constitution enters into effect. He gave no time frame for that to occur. Syria’s new president was previously the leader of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, a group the U.S. government considers a terrorist organization. Sharaa was formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Abdelghani also said former president Bashar al-Assad’s Baath Party will be dissolved, along with all affiliated institutions and organizations. “Their reformation under any other name is prohibited, and all their assets will revert to the Syrian state,” he said. Here’s what else to know In a visit to the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel has “declared war on Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria,” referring to the West Bank. “After the operation is completed, the [Israel Defense Forces] will remain in the camp to ensure that terrorism does not return,” he added, referring to the refugee camp in Jenin. More than 375,000 people have returned to northern Gaza since Monday, according to estimates cited by the U.N. humanitarian agency. Allowing residents to return to the north was a key demand of Hamas during negotiations ahead of the ceasefire agreement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making calls as the Trump administration ramps up its diplomacy efforts in the region. Rubio spoke Tuesday with Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as well as Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, according to the State Department. Rubio spoke to Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Monday. Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released Thursday under its ceasefire with Hamas, the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement. The list “aligns” with the arrangement agreed upon in the deal, according to the statement. 2,544 / 5,000 সিরিয়ার কার্যত নেতা নিজেকে রাষ্ট্রপতি ঘোষণা করলেন, সংবিধান বাতিল করলেন সিরিয়ায় কার্যত নেতা আহমেদ আল-শারা বুধবার দামেস্কে সশস্ত্র দলগুলির এক বৈঠকে দেশের সংবিধান বাতিল করলেন এবং নিজেকে রাষ্ট্রপতি ঘোষণা করলেন।