Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, 42, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has spearheaded a surprise attack on President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, leading to its collapse after over 13 years of brutal civil war. Al-Jolani, once linked to Al Qaeda, has controlled most of Idlib Province for years and is now being hailed as the most important player on the ground in Syria.
The sudden offensive, which began in late November, swept through Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, before capturing territory across several provinces without much resistance. Rebels are celebrating in Damascus, with al-Assad leaving the country after talks with “several parties of the armed conflict.”
Al-Jolani was born in Saudi Arabia to Syrian exile parents and joined Al Qaeda in Iraq in the late 1980s. He spent time in a US prison before emerging in Syria around the start of the civil war. His group, once affiliated with Al Qaeda, has since focused on governance and international legitimacy.
As the new leader of Syria, al-Jolani faces questions about his vision for the country. Some analysts say he must unite Syrians, likening his situation to that of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who transformed from criticism to statesmanship during war. With al-Assad’s departure, al-Jolani has a rare opportunity to shape Syria’s future and prove whether he can become a leader capable of uniting the country.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/08/world/middleeast/syria-hts-jolani.html