Syrian armed groups agree to dissolve, integrate into new army

The announcement, carried by state media, followed a meeting between the heads of various rebel factions and the country's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

This development comes just two weeks after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad and the swift rise of Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.

The new government, led by Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir, has already announced plans to restructure the military, incorporating former rebel officers and fighters into the newly formed national army.

Sharaa has emphasized that the country will not tolerate any armed groups outside of state control, including the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

The agreement aims to unify the country after years of devastating civil war, which has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions. (ILKHA)