-- It looks like there has been a major shift in Syria’s leadership, with Ahmed al-Sharaa emerging as the interim president and Latifa al-Sharaa becoming the country's first lady.  

BBC’s Russian Service says Latifa al-Sharaa (née Latifa Samir al-Droubi) made her first public appearance during her husband's visit to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. While she has not made any official statements, her presence has drawn attention, particularly on social media.

Background and family

According to Saudi newspaper Okaz, Latifa al-Droubi comes from al-Qaryatayn, a town in Homs province.

She belongs to the al-Droubi family, which has deep historical roots in Syria.  One of her ancestors, Alaa al-Droubi, was Syria’s second prime minister in 1920 but was assassinated just 26 days into office.

She is also related to Abdul Ghaffar al-Droubi, a well-known Syrian Quran reciter who passed away in 2009.

Latifa al-Sharaa reportedly holds a master’s degree in Arabic language and literature.

It is believed she met Ahmed al-Sharaa at university in Damascus and married him in 2013, when he was the leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, a jihadist group (now rebranded).

Her role as first lady

Latifa al-Sharaa's presence alongside her husband signals an attempt by Syria’s new leadership to present a more moderate and open image.  This was especially evident during her appearance in Saudi Arabia when her husband performed Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage) and her introduction to a delegation of Syrian-American women in January, where al-Sharaa joked about rumors of him having multiple wives, seemingly to dismiss concerns about extremist influences.

How is she perceived?

Dr. Reem al-Bazm, a Syrian-American physician who met her, described her as “sweet, calm, beautiful, confident, and educated.”

Latifa al-Sharaa's does not wear a hijab, which is notable given Syria’s political and religious dynamics.

Latifa al-Sharaa’s emergence reportedly comes as her husband attempts to distance himself from his jihadist past, strengthen ties with Arab and Western nations, and reassure Syria’s minorities, particularly the Alawites (the sect of former President Bashar al-Assad).

While her official biography remains unknown, her growing presence suggests that she may play a role in reshaping Syria’s image on the world stage.