Abu Mohammed al-Julani is a key figure in the Syrian conflict, serving as the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the most powerful armed opposition force in Syria. His group’s dramatic capture of Aleppo has upended expectations about the war in Syria.
Al-Julani was born Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa in 1982 in Saudi Arabia and joined al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2003. He was later arrested by US forces, held for five years, and tasked with establishing al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria. In 2016, he announced his group’s change to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and merged it with other opposition groups to form HTS.
HTS aims to liberate Syria from President Bashar al-Assad’s government, expelling Iranian militias and establishing a state according to their interpretation of Islamic law. However, the group also rules with a heavy hand, tolerating dissent only when necessary. Human rights organizations report that HTS has been behind disappearances of activists and shot live ammunition at protesters who oppose it.
Al-Julani appears to have taken a more accommodating stance towards Syria’s minorities since capturing Aleppo, offering assurances that religious and ethnic minorities will be protected. He wants to brand HTS as a credible governing entity in Syria and partner with other groups to avoid being labelled a terrorist organization. Despite this, HTS remains listed by the UN, Turkey, the US, and EU as a terrorist group.
Al-Julani’s influence on Syria and the international community is significant, regardless of his stated domestic ambitions.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/4/who-is-abu-mohamad-al-julani-the-leader-of-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-in-syria