ALEPPO, Syria —The Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions in Aleppo’s countryside, Idlib and Ghouta as well as the Southern Front factions in the southern Daraa and Quneitra provinces and the Syrian Desert have been holding intensive discussions with the opposition-affiliated Syrian Interim Government since the beginning of September, several sources told Al-Monitor.
The talks aim to form a national army that would unite all armed factions under one umbrella, except extremist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. In addition, a general staff for said army will be shaped and a new defense minister for the Syrian Interim Government will be appointed, since the FSA factions do not support the current minister of defense, Asaad Mustafa.