Al Shara appoints Assad-era spokesman as adviser on US affairs (opens original article in a new tab)

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara appointed Jihad Al Makdissi, a former Assad regime spokesman, as an adviser on US affairs. Makdissi previously denied the 2012 Al Houla massacre and later defected to the opposition.

• Jihad Al Makdissi was a spokesperson for the Assad regime's foreign minister
• Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara appointed Makdissi as an adviser on US affairs
• Makdissi previously denied the 2012 Al Houla massacre and later defected to the opposition