After attracting little discover for years, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani spearheaded a surprising lightning offensive that led to the autumn of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria after over 13 years of brutal civil conflict.
Mr. al-Jolani, 42, is the chief of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group as soon as linked to Al Qaeda that has managed most of Idlib Province, in northwestern Syria, for years throughout an extended stalemate within the battle.
“By far, he’s an important participant on the bottom in Syria,” mentioned Jerome Drevon, a senior analyst of jihad and trendy battle on the International Crisis Group, who has met Mr. al-Jolani a number of occasions previously 5 years.
In late November, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched probably the most vital problem to Mr. al-Assad’s rule in a decade, sweeping by Aleppo, Syria’s largest metropolis, earlier than charging south, capturing territory throughout a number of provinces with out dealing with a lot resistance.
By Sunday, rebels have been celebrating in Syria’s capital, Damascus, and declared it freed from Mr. al-Assad. Syria’s longtime chief had left the nation after holding talks with “a number of events of the armed battle,” in keeping with Russia’s Foreign Ministry. It didn’t say the place Mr. al-Assad may be.
Born Ahmed Hussein al-Shara in Saudi Arabia, Mr. al-Jolani is the kid of Syrian exiles, in keeping with Arab media experiences. In the late Eighties, his household moved again to Syria, and in 2003, he went to neighboring Iraq to affix Al Qaeda and combat the U.S. occupation.
Thank you in your endurance whereas we confirm entry. If you’re in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you in your endurance whereas we confirm entry.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
