DAMASCUS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim defense ministry on Friday launched meetings with military leaders to begin the process of incorporating various rebel factions into its command, local media reported.

The move comes after the country's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, reached an agreement last month with rebel chiefs to dissolve all armed groups and consolidate them under a unified Defense Ministry.

This development comes ahead of the planned Syrian National Conference that is expected to take place in the early days of January.

Turkish broadcaster A Haber recently reported that the conference is expected to announce the dissolution of all armed factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by al-Sharaa, who played a key role in toppling the Assad government on Dec. 8.

This will be the first pan-national conference since the dramatic power change in the Arab country. ■