Leading a revolutionary offensive Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (byname of Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa) speaking at the landmark Great Mosque of Damascus after ousting Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad from power on December 8, 2024. (more) Abu Mohammad al-Jolani militant Islamist and leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abu-Mohammad-al-Jolani Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Abu Mohammad al-Golani, Abu Mohammad al-Jawlani, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa Written by Adam Zeidan Adam Zeidan is an Assistant Managing Editor, having joined Encyclopædia Britannica in 2018. He covers a range of topics related primarily to the Middle East and North Africa. Adam Zeidan Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Dec 13, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts Al-Jolani also spelled: al-Golani, al-Julani, or al-Jawlani (Show more) Byname of: Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa (Show more) Born: 1982, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who is Abu Mohammad al-Jolani? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, also known as Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa, is a militant Islamist and leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the offensive that toppled Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad in 2024." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was Jolaniu2019s connection to al-Qaeda? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jolani was once a member of al-Qaeda but cut ties with the organization in about 2016. He initially led the Nusrah Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate, before rebranding it as Jabhat Fatau1E25 al-Shu0101m and later forming Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did Jolani rise to power in Syria? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jolani formed the Nusrah Front in 2012, gaining support by offering services in place of the government. The Nusrah Front later merged with other rebel groups to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which became a dominant faction in the Syrian opposition in 2019 and led the toppling of Assad in 2024." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was Jolaniu2019s approach to governance in Idlib? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Under Jolaniu2019s oversight, the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) built institutions, managed trade, and incentivized private investment in Idlib. The area enjoyed stability and development, though dissent was repressed and challenges to authority were not tolerated." } } ] } Top Questions Who is Abu Mohammad al-Jolani? Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, also known as Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa, is a militant Islamist and leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the offensive that toppled Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

　　What was Jolani’s connection to al-Qaeda? Jolani was once a member of al-Qaeda but cut ties with the organization in about 2016. He initially led the Nusrah Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate, before rebranding it as Jabhat Fataḥ al-Shām and later forming Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

　　How did Jolani rise to power in Syria? Jolani formed the Nusrah Front in 2012, gaining support by offering services in place of the government. The Nusrah Front later merged with other rebel groups to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which became a dominant faction in the Syrian opposition in 2019 and led the toppling of Assad in 2024.

　　What was Jolani’s approach to governance in Idlib? Under Jolani’s oversight, the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) built institutions, managed trade, and incentivized private investment in Idlib. The area enjoyed stability and development, though dissent was repressed and challenges to authority were not tolerated.

　　Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (born 1982, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) militant Islamist and leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which in 2024 led the lightning offensive that toppled Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad. Once a member of al-Qaeda, he is designated a terrorist by several countries—including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey (Türkiye), as well as the United Nations and the European Union—although he cut ties with the international terrorist organization in about 2016 and has since sought to recreate his image. After Assad was ousted on December 8, 2024, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani began presenting himself by his legal name Ahmad ...(100 of 2007 words)

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