List of prime ministers of Syria facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Syria has had many leaders called prime ministers since 1920. A prime minister is like the head of the government, helping to run the country day-to-day. This list shows the people who have held this important job in Syria over the years.

Syria's Early Prime Ministers (1920–1958)
United Arab Republic (1958–1961)
Syria's Modern Era (1961–2025)
- The Second Syrian Republic (1961–1963)
- Ba'athist Syria (1963–2024)
  - Transitional Period (2024–2025)
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Syria's Early Prime Ministers (1920–1958)

Syria's journey to becoming an independent nation was long. During this time, many different prime ministers led the country.

The Arab Kingdom and French Mandate (1920–1930)

Syria first had a short-lived Arab Kingdom. Then, it was under a French Mandate, which meant France had control. Even then, Syrian leaders worked to govern.

Rida Pasha al-Rikabi (March 9, 1920 – May 3, 1920): He was the first prime minister of the Arab Kingdom of Syria.
Hashim al-Atassi (May 3, 1920 – July 26, 1920): He served briefly after al-Rikabi.
Aladdin Al-Droubi (July 26, 1920 – August 21, 1920): His time as prime minister was very short.
Jamil al-Ulshi (September 6, 1920 – November 30, 1920): He took office after a short period when there was no prime minister.
Haqqi al-Azm (December 1, 1920 – June 28, 1922): He was a prime minister during the early French Mandate period.
Subhi Bey Barakat (June 28, 1922 – December 21, 1925): He held the position for over three years.
Taj al-Din al-Hasani (December 29, 1925 – January 6, 1926): He had a very short term.
Ahmad Nami (April 27, 1926 – February 9, 1928): He led the government for nearly two years.
Taj al-Din al-Hasani (April 15, 1928 – May 14, 1930): He returned for a longer period.

The First Syrian Republic (1930–1950)

Syria became a republic, but it was still under French control for some time. Leaders continued to work towards full independence.

Taj al-Din al-Hasani (May 14, 1930 – November 19, 1931): He continued his role into the new republic.
Léon Solomiac (November 19, 1931 – June 11, 1932): He was a French official who served as prime minister.
Haqqi al-Azm (June 7, 1932 – March 16, 1934): He served a second term as prime minister.
Taj al-Din al-Hasani (March 16, 1934 – February 22, 1936): He had another term as prime minister.
Ata Bey al-Ayyubi (February 22, 1936 – December 21, 1936): He led the government for about ten months.
Jamil Mardam Bey (December 21, 1936 – February 23, 1939): He was a key figure from the National Bloc party.
Lutfi al-Haffar (February 23, 1939 – April 5, 1939): His term was very brief.
Nasuhi al-Bukhari (April 5, 1939 – July 8, 1939): He served as prime minister for a few months.
Bahij al-Khatib (July 8, 1939 – April 4, 1941): He led the government during a challenging time.
Khalid al-Azm (April 4, 1941 – September 21, 1941): He had his first term as prime minister.
Hassan al-Hakim (September 21, 1941 – April 19, 1942): He served as prime minister for a short period.
Husni al-Barazi (April 19, 1942 – January 10, 1943): He was prime minister for less than a year.
Jamil al-Ulshi (January 10, 1943 – March 25, 1943): He returned for a second, very short term.
Ata Bey al-Ayyubi (March 25, 1943 – August 19, 1943): He had a second term as prime minister.
Saadallah al-Jabiri (August 19, 1943 – October 14, 1944): He was a prominent leader from the National Bloc.
Fares al-Khoury (October 14, 1944 – October 1, 1945): He was a significant figure in Syrian politics.
Saadallah al-Jabiri (October 1, 1945 – April 17, 1946): He returned for another term.

Independent Syria (1946–1950)

Syria gained full independence in 1946. This marked a new era for the country.

Saadallah al-Jabiri (April 17, 1946 – December 16, 1946): He continued as prime minister after independence.
Khalid al-Azm (December 16, 1946 – December 29, 1946): He served a very brief second term.
Jamil Mardam Bey (December 29, 1946 – December 17, 1948): He had a longer term after independence.
Khalid al-Azm (December 17, 1948 – March 30, 1949): He was prime minister when a military coup happened in March 1949.
Husni al-Za'im (April 17, 1949 – June 26, 1949): He took power after the coup.
Muhsin al-Barazi (June 26, 1949 – August 14, 1949): He was executed after another coup in August 1949.
Hashim al-Atassi (August 14, 1949 – December 24, 1949): He returned as prime minister after the August coup.
Nazim al-Qudsi (December 24, 1949 – December 27, 1949): His first term was extremely short.
Khalid al-Azm (December 27, 1949 – June 4, 1950): He served another term as prime minister.
Nazim al-Qudsi (June 4, 1950 – September 5, 1950): He had a second term.

The Second Syrian Republic (1950–1958)

This period saw more changes and political shifts in Syria.

Nazim al-Qudsi (September 5, 1950 – March 27, 1951): He continued his term into the Second Republic.
Khalid al-Azm (March 27, 1951 – August 9, 1951): He served another term.
Hassan al-Hakim (August 9, 1951 – November 13, 1951): He returned for a second term.
Zaki al-Khatib (November 13, 1951 – November 28, 1951): He had a very short time in office.
Maarouf al-Dawalibi (November 28, 1951 – November 29, 1951): He was overthrown by a coup after only one day.
Fawzi Selu (December 3, 1951 – July 19, 1953): He was a military leader, but the real power was with Adib Shishakli.
Adib Shishakli (July 19, 1953 – March 1, 1954): He was a military officer who became prime minister but resigned during a coup.
Sabri al-Asali (March 1, 1954 – June 19, 1954): He took office after Shishakli's resignation.
Said al-Ghazzi (June 19, 1954 – November 3, 1954): He served as prime minister for several months.
Fares al-Khoury (November 3, 1954 – February 13, 1955): He returned for another term.
Sabri al-Asali (February 13, 1955 – September 13, 1955): He had a second term.
Said al-Ghazzi (September 13, 1955 – June 14, 1956): He served a second term as prime minister.
Sabri al-Asali (June 14, 1956 – February 1, 1958): He had his third term as prime minister.

United Arab Republic (1958–1961)

For a few years, Syria joined with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic. During this time, the role of prime minister in Syria was different.

Nur al-Din Kahala (October 7, 1958 – September 20, 1960): He was a key figure in the Syrian part of the United Arab Republic.
Abdel Hamid al-Sarraj (September 20, 1960 – August 16, 1961): He also held a high position during this union.

Syria's Modern Era (1961–2025)

After the United Arab Republic ended, Syria became independent again and continued to have prime ministers.

The Second Syrian Republic (1961–1963)

Syria returned to being a republic after leaving the union with Egypt.

Maamun al-Kuzbari (September 29, 1961 – November 20, 1961): He became prime minister after Syria left the United Arab Republic.
Izzat al-Nuss (November 20, 1961 – December 14, 1961): He was a military figure who served briefly.
Maarouf al-Dawalibi (December 22, 1961 – March 28, 1962): He returned for a second term.
Bashir al-Azma (April 16, 1962 – September 17, 1962): He served as prime minister for several months.
Khalid al-Azm (September 17, 1962 – March 8, 1963): He was the prime minister when the Ba'ath Party took power in a coup.

Ba'athist Syria (1963–2024)

The Ba'ath Party came to power in 1963, and its leaders held the prime minister position for many decades.

Khalid al-Azm (March 8, 1963 – March 9, 1963): He was briefly prime minister right after the Ba'ath Party took control.
Salah al-Din al-Bitar (March 9, 1963 – May 11, 1963): He was one of the founders of the Ba'ath Party.
Sami al-Jundi (May 11, 1963 – May 13, 1963): He served for a very short time.
Salah al-Din al-Bitar (May 13, 1963 – November 11, 1963): He returned for another term.
Amin al-Hafiz (November 12, 1963 – May 13, 1964): He was a military officer and Ba'ath Party leader.
Salah al-Din al-Bitar (May 14, 1964 – October 3, 1964): He had another term as prime minister.
Amin al-Hafiz (October 4, 1964 – September 22, 1965): He served a second term.
Yusuf Zuayyin (September 22, 1965 – December 21, 1965): He was a Ba'ath Party member.
Salah al-Din al-Bitar (January 1, 1966 – February 23, 1966): He was overthrown in a coup by other Ba'ath Party members.
Yusuf Zuayyin (March 1, 1966 – October 29, 1968): He returned for a second term.
Nureddin al-Atassi (October 29, 1968 – November 18, 1970): He was overthrown by Hafez al-Assad in what was called the Corrective Movement.
Hafez al-Assad (November 21, 1970 – April 3, 1971): He became prime minister after taking power, later becoming president.
Abdul Rahman Khleifawi (April 3, 1971 – December 21, 1972): He was the first prime minister under President Hafez al-Assad.
Mahmoud al-Ayyubi (December 21, 1972 – August 7, 1976): He served for almost four years.
Abdul Rahman Khleifawi (August 7, 1976 – March 27, 1978): He returned for a second term.
Muhammad Ali al-Halabi (March 27, 1978 – January 9, 1980): He served as prime minister for nearly two years.
Abdul Rauf al-Kasm (January 9, 1980 – November 1, 1987): He held the position for a long time.
Mahmoud Al-Zoubi (November 1, 1987 – March 7, 2000): He was prime minister for over 12 years.
Muhammad Mustafa Mero (March 7, 2000 – September 10, 2003): He became prime minister after President Hafez al-Assad passed away.
Muhammad Naji al-Otari (September 10, 2003 – April 14, 2011): He served for a long period.
Adel Safar (April 14, 2011 – June 23, 2012): He was prime minister during the early part of the Syrian civil war.
Riyad Farid Hijab (June 23, 2012 – August 6, 2012): He defected (left his position to join the opposition) during the civil war.
Omar Ibrahim Ghalawanji (August 6, 2012 – August 9, 2012): He served as a temporary prime minister.
Wael Nader al-Halqi (August 9, 2012 – July 3, 2016): He served as prime minister during the civil war.
Imad Khamis (July 3, 2016 – June 11, 2020): He held the position for four years.
Hussein Arnous (June 11, 2020 – September 14, 2024): He was prime minister for over four years.
Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali (September 14, 2024 – December 8, 2024): He served briefly before the fall of the Ba'athist government.

Transitional Period (2024–2025)

After the fall of the Ba'athist government in December 2024, a temporary government was formed.

Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali (December 8, 2024 – December 10, 2024): He served as a caretaker prime minister during the transition.
Mohammed al-Bashir (December 10, 2024 – March 29, 2025): He became the head of the transitional government. The position of prime minister was then abolished.