From Al-Qaeda To Syria’s Most Powerful Rebel Group HTS, Who Is Abu Mohammed al-Julani?

Abu Mohammed al-Julani, founder and leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), stands at the forefront of Syria's armed opposition forces.

For nearly a decade, he has sought to establish his group as a dominant national force, advocating for an "Islamic republic" in Syria, reported Al Jazeera.

Since 2016, al-Julani has worked to shift HTS's image away from its transnational roots, focusing instead on governance within Syria's borders.

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Under his leadership, HTS established the Syrian Salvation Government in 2017, managing civil services, education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Idlib province.

However, the group rules with an authoritarian approach, reportedly suppressing dissent and using force against protesters.

Syria Direct and local monitors have documented instances of enforced disappearances and violent crackdowns on opposition within HTS-controlled areas.

Past

Born Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1982, al-Julani grew up near Damascus after his family's return to Syria in 1989.

In 2003, he moved to Iraq and joined al-Qaeda in Iraq, opposing the US-led invasion. Captured in 2006, he spent five years in US custody before being tasked with establishing al-Qaeda's Syrian branch, the al-Nusra Front.

Al-Julani initially collaborated with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of al-Qaeda's "Islamic State in Iraq," which later evolved into ISIL (ISIS).

However, when al-Baghdadi expanded ISIL into Syria in 2013, al-Julani rejected this move, maintaining allegiance to al-Qaeda.

Over time, al-Julani distanced himself from al-Qaeda's global caliphate ambitions, rebranding his group in 2016 as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and later as HTS in 2017, consolidating smaller opposition factions under his leadership.

Future

In recent developments, HTS has led the recapture of Aleppo, with al-Julani positioning his group as a legitimate governing authority.

The group has made overtures to ethnic and religious minorities, offering assurances of protection in newly captured territories.

Al-Julani appears to aim for international recognition, portraying HTS as a national force distinct from terrorist organisations.

He has sought partnerships with other opposition groups while avoiding alliances with extremist factions like Hurras al-Din, the current al-Qaeda branch in Syria.

Despite these efforts, HTS remains designated a "terrorist" organisation by the United Nations, Turkey, the US, and the European Union.

Al-Julani argues this label is unjust, claiming HTS has severed its former allegiances to focus on Syria's internal governance.

Regardless of these claims, as the leader of Syria's most powerful opposition group, his actions continue to shape the country's future and draw international scrutiny.