Jawad Abu Hatab

Jawad Abu Hatab (Arabic: جواد أبو حطب; born 1962) is a Syrian politician. Prior to his election as prime minister, he worked as a heart surgeon and served in various roles within the Syrian opposition.

Jawad Abu Hatab
Jawad in 2018
Prime Minister of the Syrian Interim Government
In office 17 May 2016 – 10 March 2019[1]
President	Anas al-Abdah Riad Seif Abdurrahman Mustafa
Preceded by	Ahmad Tu'mah
Succeeded by	Abdurrahman Mustafa
Defense Minister of the Syrian Interim Government
In office 17 May 2016 – 10 March 2019[1]
President	Anas al-Abdah Riad Seif Abdurrahman Mustafa
Preceded by	office established
Succeeded by	Salim Idris
Personal details
Born	1962 (age 62–63) Damascus, Syria
Political party	Independent
Alma mater	Damascus University

Early life and career

Hatab was born in 1962 in Damascus. He completed his higher education at the medical school of Damascus University in 1988. He subsequently worked as a heart surgeon at the Cardiac Surgery Hospital located within the hospital. Hatab travelled to Italy in 2003 and completed his studies to become a paediatric cardiologist.^[2]

Political career

After the Syrian civil war broke out, Hatab served in various administrative roles within the Syrian opposition. In May 2016 he was appointed by the Syrian National Coalition as Prime Minister of the Turkish-supported Syrian Interim Government. During his tenure, he sought to improve service delivery in opposition-controlled areas and relocate opposition government officials from Turkey to Syria.^[3]

From 17 May 2016, he served as Minister of Defence^[4] and prime minister in the Syrian Interim Government, resigning on 10 March 2019.^[1]