Who is Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham?

As a result of the fact that HTS was identified as an alias of al-Qaeda in 2017, the United Kingdom designated it as a terrorist organization. Because of this, the United Kingdom is unable to communicate with the group in any way.At this time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has not disclosed whether or whether the government of the United Kingdom intends to remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) off a list of terrorist organizations that are considered to be banned. HTS was the leader of the rebels that were responsible for the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an umbrella group of Sunni extremists commanded by Mohammed al-Jolani, was responsible for planning the revolt that resulted in the president fleeing to Russia as rebels took control of Damascus, the capital city of Syria.

One of the most well-known rebel groups in the northwest region of Syria is called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who is also known by the name Ahmed Hussein al-Shar’a, manages the organization. HTS originated from Jabhat al-Nusra, a terrorist organization that had ties to al-Qaeda. In spite of this, it eventually severed its links with al-Qaeda in order to receive additional backing and credibility in Syria.

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Key Points About al-Jolani:

1. Origins:
   
   • Al-Jolani was born in 1982 in Syria’s Daraa province. He reportedly studied Islamic jurisprudence and participated in the early phases of the Syrian uprising that began in 2011.
   • He has a background in jihadist militancy, allegedly fighting in Iraq during the U.S. invasion and later joining al-Qaeda.
2. Role in Jabhat al-Nusra:
   
   • He founded Jabhat al-Nusra in 2012 as an al-Qaeda-aligned group fighting against the Assad regime. Under his leadership, it became one of the most powerful factions in the Syrian civil war.
3. Shift to HTS:
   
   • In 2016, Jabhat al-Nusra rebranded itself as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham to distance itself from al-Qaeda.
   • In 2017, al-Jolani led the merger of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham with other groups to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. HTS is now the dominant rebel force in Idlib province.
4. Ideology and Leadership:
   
   • Al-Jolani has tried to present HTS as a nationalist movement rather than a global jihadist group, aiming to appeal to local and international audiences.
   • Despite this, HTS remains controversial, accused of human rights abuses and maintaining extremist ideology.
5. Current Role:
   
   • Al-Jolani leads HTS in governing parts of northwestern Syria, particularly Idlib, where the group administers civil services and security while continuing to fight the Assad regime and occasionally clashing with other rebel factions.
   • He has made rare public appearances, including efforts to portray himself as a pragmatic leader seeking to secure the region against the Assad regime and external threats.

International Status:

HTS is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Russia, and several other countries. This designation complicates al-Jolani’s efforts to secure broader legitimacy or external support.