Abu Mohammed al-Golani, once a top jihadi figure with ties to al-Qaida, has emerged as a central figure in post-Assad Syria following the insurgent capture of Damascus. Now going by his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, he has positioned himself as a key player in shaping the country’s future after President Bashar al-Assad’s dramatic fall from power.
On Sunday, al-Sharaa entered Damascus with his victorious fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the insurgent group he leads. In his first appearance in the Umayyad Mosque, he declared Assad’s downfall “a victory for the Islamic nation” while emphasizing his new vision for a pluralistic Syria. “Syria deserves a governing system that is institutional, not one where a single ruler makes arbitrary decisions,” he said in a recent interview.
Al-Sharaa’s transformation from a militant to a state-building leader has been years in the making. Once a loyal operative of al-Qaida and a prominent figure in Syria’s Nusra Front, al-Sharaa broke ties with the global terror network in 2016. He later rebranded his group as HTS and began consolidating power in northwest Syria’s Idlib province.
In recent years, al-Sharaa has adopted a more moderate public image, advocating for decentralization and governance reforms to reflect Syria’s ethnic and religious diversity. He has also called for greater tolerance, meeting with minority communities and publicly rejecting sectarian violence.
Despite his rebranding efforts, al-Sharaa and HTS face significant skepticism both domestically and internationally. The group, labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, includes many fighters with extremist backgrounds. Foreign powers such as Russia, Turkey, and the U.S. remain deeply involved in Syria’s fractured political landscape, raising questions about the country’s stability and the potential for renewed conflict.
As Syria’s future hangs in the balance, the extent to which al-Sharaa’s leadership can unify the nation and address its deep divisions remains uncertain. His ability to transition from insurgency to governance will be closely watched by both Syrians and the international community.
Stay tuned to Amnewsworld for further updates on this evolving story.
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