Syrian President Bashar al-Assad replaced his defence minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij for the first time since 2012 as part of a government reshuffle. <br/>'<br/>The state news agency SANA said that President Assad today issued a decree, naming General Ali Abdullah Ayoub minister of defence without providing any explanation for the surprise announcement.The 65-year-old was until now the chief of general staff of the armed forces .<br/>'<br/>The reshuffle also saw two other changes, Mohammed Mazen<br/>Ali Yusef was given the industry portfolio and Imad Abdullah<br/>Sara, previously the head of the state broadcasting corporation, was named information minister. <br/>