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Life of Syrian rebel Abu Mohammad al-Jolani from toppling Assad to ISIS and Al-Qaeda

EXCLUSIVE: The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), within just hours of arriving in Damascus, gave a symbolic speech from the Umayyad Mosque, saying: We [the Syrian people] are the rightful owners [of this country]"

[There is mroe than one version of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani]

There is more than one version of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The ousting of the Syrian government has been a story about the fall of the tyrannical regime of Bashar al-Assad but it has also been about the rise of another man, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.

Just a few weeks ago many in the UK may not have recognised him, but now, he is plastered across news outlets nationwide. Images of him standing triumphantly among his fighters in the halls of power have been received as that of a freedom fighter victorious.

The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, within just hours of arriving in Damascus, gave a symbolic speech from the Umayyad Mosque, saying: We [the Syrian people] are the rightful owners [of this country]. We have been fighting, and today we have been rewarded with this victory.

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He has become a figurehead for the movement since the lightening fast sweep of the rebel coalition into the capital, his set piece speech already evidence of he and HTSs relevance in this new era for Syria. But while his face is only now a common feature in Western media, his story has been intertwined with politics in the region for decades.

[Jolani's history is intertwined with the recent history of the Middle East ]

Jolani's history is intertwined with the recent history of the Middle East (Image: U.S State Department)

Who is Abu Mohammad al-Jolani?

Ahmad Hussein Al-Sharaa, more widely known by his nom de guerre "Jolani" a reference to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was born in 1982 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabiathen a far cry from the modern, urbanised Riyadh we know today, explained Hashem Alkhalidi, a geopolitical advisor on Arab geopolitics at ReshapeRisks.

His upbringing was shaped by a relatively liberal family background; his father was a Syrian civil servant and his first job was a shopkeeper. Jolani's political awakening reportedly began during the Second Palestinian Intifada in 2000, which deeply influenced his views on occupation and oppression. Motivated by a desire to pursue military resistance, he dropped out of medical school in Damascus and joined a small militia in Iraq response to the US and UK invasion in 2003."

Is Abu Mohammad al-Jolani connected to Al-Qaeda or ISIS?

[Jolani has become a figurehead of the rebel coalition ]

Jolani has become a figurehead of the rebel coalition (Image: Orient News/AFP via Getty Images)

Jolani's ties to Al-Qaeda are well-documented, Hashem explained. He was not only affiliated with the group but was also an active member of Al-Qaeda's core network. He was captured and detained in Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prisona site that came to symbolise US mismanagement and human rights violations during the Iraq War.

Jolani later founded the Nusra Front in Syria, which maintained connections to Al-Qaeda's central leadership but distanced itself from Al-Qaeda in Iraq under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, later the leader of ISIS, killed by U.S. forces during Donald Trump's presidency.

However, Jolanis image has morphed in recent years, and he appears to have taken efforts to distance himself from the widely condemned image of ISIS and instead take on more the appearance of a freedom fighter.

Hashem said: His recent rebranding, including adopting the Syrian Revolution flag instead of the Islamic State flag, appears to be part of a deliberate effort to position himself as a more moderate figure. This shift was reportedly supported by Turkey, who trained and backed him near its border to consolidate Syrian rebel factions. However, public perception of his stance remains dividedhis rhetoric in media appearances is often consistent, but external speculation about his long-term goals persists.

Will Abu Mohammad al-Jolani lead Syria?

[Jolani's speech has been a key moment in the overthrowing of the Assad regime ]

Jolani's speech has been a key moment in the overthrowing of the Assad regime (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Since appearing as the face of the revolution, many have wondered about whether Jolani will become the stand in leader of the country. This question appeared to be answered when it was announced little-known Mohammed al-Bashir would become the interim Prime Minister. For now then, it seems Jolanis exact role is unclear, yet despite official titles his symbolic position in the country remains key.

Jolani has played a dual role as both a military leader and a symbolic protector of the Syrian Revolution, Hashem said. Under his leadership, the northern rebel-held territories have managed a relative degree of stability since the 2020 ceasefire. These areas have sought to transition from pure conflict zones to semi-functional governance, exemplified by the creation of a civil government structure.

The appointment of Mohammad Al-Bashir as caretaker suggests continuity in governance and a push for legitimacy.

However, Jolani's future influence will depend on his ability to stabilise Syria, for now, he's expected to be in control of the military.

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