• Source:JND
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As the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) declared the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and the beginning of a ‘new era’ following their capture of Damascus, the spotlight now shifts to their leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani. Once closely affiliated with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the founder of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), al-Julani has long been a controversial figure in the Syrian conflict. His leadership of HTS marks a significant moment in Syria's ongoing civil war, with many questioning what his next steps will be now that the Assad regime has been ousted.

Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the militant leader whose insurgency played a pivotal role in toppling Syria’s long-standing dictator Bashar al-Assad, has undergone a significant transformation over the years. Once known for his close ties to al-Qaeda, Julani has worked relentlessly to reshape his public image, distancing himself from the global jihadist group and presenting himself as a more moderate and pragmatic figure. 

His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once affiliated with al-Qaeda, has repositioned itself as a leading force within Syria's rebel factions, claiming to champion pluralism, tolerance, and the interests of the Syrian people. 

Who Is Abu Mohammed al-Golani?

Abu Mohammad al-Julani has been the leader of Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) since 2017 and previously led al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's Syrian branch, until 2016. The US designated him a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ in 2013, offering a USD 10 million reward for his capture. Once outspoken against the US and its allies, al-Julani has since adopted a more moderate stance, vowing to protect minorities and distancing himself from conflicts with Western nations.

Julani hails from a family displaced from the Golan Heights during the Israeli occupation in 1967. His father, Hussein al-Shar'a, was an Arab nationalist and student activist aligned with the Nasserists. He was imprisoned by Syrian neo-Ba'athists during the anti-Nasserist purges following the 1961 and 1963 coups that led to the rise of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath party.

Abu Mohammad al-Julani's Radicalisation

In a 2021 interview, al-Julani stated that he was radicalised by the Palestinian Second Intifada in 2000, at the age of 17 or 18, and felt compelled to defend oppressed people. He appreciated the 9/11 attacks and travelled to Baghdad before the 2003 Iraq invasion, where he rose through the ranks of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Though he was reportedly close to AQI leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Julani denied ever meeting him in the interview. He was arrested by US forces in 2006 and spent over five years in various prisons, including Abu Ghraib.

When Al-Julani Revealed Offensive Goal To Oust Assad 

In an interview with CNN, Al-Julani, using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, declared that the goal of the offensive was to remove Bashar al-Assad from power. He pledged to protect minority groups and expressed intentions to dissolve HTS to strengthen governance structures. Al-Julani also emphasised his commitment to facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.

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