DAMASCUS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered on Monday a ministerial reshuffle, replacing the ministers of defense, information and industry, state news agency SANA reported.

Assad appointed General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, the former chief of staff, as the new defense minister, replacing Fahd Jassem al-Freij, who had held the position since 2012.

The president also appointed Emad Sara, former head of the state TV, as the new information minister, replacing Mohammad Ramez Turjman, who held the post since July 2016.

Lastly, Muhammad Mazen Ali Youssef was appointed as minister of industry, replacing Ahmad Hamo, who also came to office in July 2016, when the current government of Prime Minister Imad Khamis was formed.

The change of the defense minister came as a surprise, as Freij was in the post during all the military operations that have dragged on since 2012.

The appointment of Freij followed the assassination of his predecessor Dawoud Rajiha in the 2012 Damascus bombing which targeted top Syrian officials.

SANA report did not mention the reasons behind the reshuffle.