Syria's new rulers have appointed foreign and defense ministers with links to the group that toppled President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group, or HTS, is believed to be taking the initiative in forming a new cabinet of the interim government.

On Saturday, 37-year-old Assad Hassan al-Shibani was named foreign minister. He previously worked with the political department of an HTS-related group. He also studied in Turkey.

Reuters news agency and other media say the newly appointed defense minister is Murhaf Abu Qasra, a senior HTS figure.

On Saturday, Syria's state-run news agency published a photo of the new defense minister and Golani meeting with leaders of armed groups. The report said they discussed forming new government forces.

The Washington Post reports that US officials have told Golani they will consider removing HTS's terrorist group designation, if an inclusive government is created.

Attention is focused on whether the interim government can form a cabinet of national reconciliation that includes minority and female members, as requested by the international community.