Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, the leader of an Islamist insurgent alliance that has recently seized significant portions of Syria in a swift offensive, is working to moderate his image while pursuing his goal of overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad's government, according to The Guardian.
In an interview with CNN aired at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jawlani stated, "When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime. It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal."
After years of operating covertly, Jawlani has stepped into the public eye, engaging with international media and making appearances in Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, following its capture from government forces for the first time in the civil war.
Video: Assad statue toppled in Damascus after rebels seize city / Credit: Arab social media
His transformation is visible in his appearance – abandoning the traditional turban associated with jihadists in favor of military attire. On Wednesday, he was seen at Aleppo's citadel wearing khaki clothing, greeting crowds from his white vehicle.
Since severing ties with Al-Qaida in 2016, Jawlani has attempted to present himself as a more moderate figure. However, according to The Guardian, analysts and Western governments continue to designate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organization.
Thomas Pierret, a specialist in political Islam, told The Guardian, "He is a pragmatic radical." Pierret noted that Jawlani's extremist rhetoric peaked in 2014 when competing with ISIS, but has since moderated.
Born Ahmed al-Sharaa in 1982 to an affluent family in Damascus's upscale Mazzeh district, Jawlani began signing statements under his real name during the offensive launched on November 27. In a 2021 interview with PBS, he explained that his nom de guerre referenced his family's roots in the Golan Heights, claiming his grandfather was displaced following Israel's 1967 annexation.
According to Middle East Eye, Jawlani's path to extremist ideology began after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The news site reported that he attended secretive sermons in Damascus's outskirts before leaving Syria to join the fight following the US-led Iraq invasion.
After joining Al-Qaida in Iraq under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Jawlani spent five years in detention. He returned to Syria in March 2011 amid the uprising against Assad's rule, establishing the al-Nusra Front as Syria's Al-Qaida branch.
In 2013, he refused to pledge allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, instead aligning with Al-Qaida's Ayman al-Zawahiri. By May 2015, Jawlani distinguished himself from ISIS by declaring he had no intentions of attacking Western targets and promising no retribution against Assad's Alawite minority should the regime fall.
After breaking from Al-Qaida to avoid Western intervention, Jawlani merged with other Islamist groups in January 2017 to form HTS, controlling parts of Idlib province. The group established a civilian administration, though the UN has classified some of its actions against dissenters as war crimes, according to The Guardian.
Recently, Jawlani has addressed Aleppo's residents, including its Christian minority, promising protection under his control. He has also instructed his fighters to maintain security in newly captured areas.
Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International, told The Guardian, "The less local and international panic you have and the more Jawlani seems like a responsible actor instead of a toxic jihadi extremist, the easier his job will become. Is it totally sincere? Surely not. But it's the smart thing to say and do right now."
Throughout this process, HTS faced accusations from residents and rights groups of brutal abuses against those who dared dissent, which the UN has classed as war crimes.
