Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Islamist insurgent alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has adopted a more moderate posture to achieve his goal of overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Jolani says the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime, stating that it is their right to use all available means to achieve that goal.
Born in 1982, Jolani was born into a well-to-do family and raised in Damascus. He was drawn to jihadist thinking after the 9/11 attacks and joined Al-Qaida in Iraq before returning to Syria to found the al-Nusra Front. In 2016, he broke ties with Al-Qaida and has since sought to portray himself as a more moderate leader.
However, analysts and Western governments still classify HTS as a terrorist organisation, labelling Jolani as a “pragmatic radical”. Jolani’s rhetoric has moderated over time, but he remains under suspicion due to allegations of brutal abuses against dissidents. Despite this, he has sought to reassure residents of Aleppo, including Christians, that they would face no harm under his new regime.
Jolani’s shift in tone may be a strategic move to gain credibility and ease international concerns. However, experts believe it is unlikely that his intentions are entirely sincere. As Aron Lund, fellow of the Century International thinktank, said, “It’s the smart thing to say and do right now.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/06/who-is-abu-mohammed-al-jolani-leader-of-syrian-insurgents-hts