Syria's Assad appoints new prime minister after defection
BEIRUT - Syrian President Bashar Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as the country@@@s new prime minister on Thursday, after the defection earlier this week of Prime Minister Riyad Hijab.Halki, born in 1964, is from the southern province of Deraa where the 17-month-old uprising against Assad erupted. He replaces caretaker premier Omar Ghalawanji who was appointed hours after Hijab@@@s defection.ByREUTERS06/08/2025 07:57 AMByREUTERS06/08/2025 05:36 AMByMAARIV06/07/2025 02:33 PMByWALLA!06/07/2025 11:18 AMByREUTERS06/07/2025 03:25 AM