No spoils of war: Syria's new ruler lays down the law to loyalists

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Moscow, Russia, October 15, 2025. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylyov/Pool via REUTERS

(Refiles to remove paragraph 25 on Jamal al-Sharaa being unreachable)

DAMASCUS (Reuters) -"I didn't know the salaries the government pays were this high!" Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa joked after more than 100 loyalists arrived at his former rebel base, many pulling up in luxury SUVs.