After ten years leading the White Helmets organization and a distinguished humanitarian career, Raed Al-Saleh has accepted the position of Minister in the newly established Ministry of Environment, Emergencies, and Disaster Management in a new and inclusive national government aimed at serving all Syrians and meeting their aspirations. Accordingly, he has resigned as President of the White Helmets organization and from all positions he held in the governing bodies of affiliated entities.

Munir Mustafa, the Vice President of the Board and Head of Humanitarian Affairs, will become interim head of the White Helmets until a new president is elected by the organization's General Assembly at its upcoming annual conference. Mustafa has led our humanitarian programs for a decade and was one of the first firefighters to stand by his principles, defect from the Assad regime, and establish the first civil defense center in Aleppo province.

Raed Al-Saleh, who embodies the spirit of every Syrian and every White Helmets volunteer, has made immense contributions as a patriotic humanitarian leader. He has guided the organization through the most challenging periods in Syria’s modern history, amid war and disasters, and through the devastating loss of hundreds of colleagues. Under his leadership, the organization has remained unwavering in its commitment to humanitarian principles and achieved major milestones—saving 128,000 lives, supporting communities affected by crisis, and amplifying the voices of Syrians worldwide. Raed has been a staunch advocate for justice and Syrian rights, carrying the hopes and concerns of the people with determination, representing them in international fora, and uniting our efforts toward our highest goal—saving lives and building a homeland rooted in dignity, rights, and the rule of law. Through it all, he has led us in building a unique, professional, and nationally rooted humanitarian institution that all Syrians can take pride in.

As he transitions into this new role in service of the Syrian people, we take pride in what we have achieved together under his leadership. We wish him great success in this significant national mission.  

The White Helmets organization remains committed to operating in line with humanitarian principles. We will stay true to our values, and  dedicate ourselves  to the best interests of Syria and its people. We will continue contributing to the establishment of strong and prosperous state of institutions.

This is a critical time for the country, and Syrians need a technically proficient government to build a new Syria that is stable, prosperous, free and safe for all. We believe Raed Al-Saleh’s inclusion in this new government as a source of hope for building a free and stable Syria. It is also a testament to the strength of the institution he has helped to build, its neutrality, and its professionalism in humanitarian response, marking a significant success for Syrian civil society.

Ten years ago, we signed a founding charter stating that in a post-conflict Syria, the Syria Civil Defence would “commit to the task of rebuilding Syria as a stable, prosperous, peace-loving nation in which the social, economic and political aspirations of all people can be realised”. In line with this commitment, we intend to transition some civil defense functions from the White Helmets to the Ministry of Environment, Emergencies, and Disaster Management. We believe  this move will strengthen the development of effective national institutions serving all Syrians. An internal committee has been formed to establish a clear and transparent process for this transition.

We assure the Syrian people, our friends and supporters, and all those who believe in our humanitarian mission, that the White Helmets will continue their work as they have for the past decade—with full independence and neutrality—remaining dedicated to our noble mission of supporting Syrians and helping our communities to recover.