Brother of Syria’s transitional president controls reconstruction wealth

 The committee is reportedly working behind the scenes to strike secret deals with businessmen from the Assad era, amid a complete lack of transparency and growing international concern.

The investigation indicates that the transitional government is not the real authority overseeing Syria’s economic restructuring. Instead, an unofficial body operates like a “parallel state,” cutting secret deals with former regime-linked tycoons. These businessmen pay large sums to retain parts of their wealth, while most assets go to the state or committee-controlled companies.

Examples include:

Businessman Samer Foz allegedly surrendered 80% of his $1 billion assets (including hotels and sugar factories) to the committee.

Mohamed Hamsho gave up his iron factories (later used to recycle rubble) and kept around $150 million.

Hazem al-Shara’ co-leads the operation with Lebanese-Australian financier Ibrahim Sukkarieh (Abu Maryam), who is under international sanctions for alleged ties to terrorism. He plays a key role in shaping the new economic system under questionable foreign cover.

The committee now controls strategic sectors once held by the Assad regime, such as:

Syriatel telecom

Sham Wings airline (now rebranded as “Fly Sham”)

Additionally, a “Sovereign Wealth Fund” was recently announced under Hazem al-Shara’s management, with no independent oversight or transparency regarding the fund’s assets. Western governments warn that this opaque structure undermines accountability and investor trust.

Critics and opposition figures argue this is not reform, but a blatant attempt to repackage the Assad-era economic system by replacing faces while preserving the same authoritarian and monopolistic mindset.

a.k

ANHA