English
By Georgia Kiosi, Analyst KEDISA
On January 29, 2025 Syria’s new leadership, fell in the hands of Ahmad al Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani, former emir of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and previous leader of Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al Nusrah.
Essentially, the HTS is an offshoot of the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Syria’s most powerful rebel group that managed to launch a military campaign to topple the Assad regime last year.[1] During the 54 years of Assad rule in Syria, more than 90% of the population lived below the poverty line, and more than 6 million people left Syria, while, 7 million people remained displaced within its borders.[2]
At present, Ahmad al Sharaa is formally declared as Syria’s leader, assuming total presidential powers for Syria’s transitioning period after the fall of the Assad regime, while also being tasked with forming a temporary legislative body.[3]
In his first speech as transitional president on January 30, Ahmad al-Sharaa vowed “to form a comprehensive transitional government that expresses the diversity of Syria, its men, women, and youth, and that will undertake the work of building the institutions of the new Syria until we reach the stage of free and fair elections.”[4]
Interestingly, however, after the overthrow of the Assad regime, Ahmad al-Sharaa effectively managed to move the HTS government from Idlib to serve as a transitional government in Syria. He also appointed HTS commanders Murhaf Abu Qusra and Ali al-Naasan as Minister of Defence and Military Chief of Staff, respectively, and, he assigned Anas Khattab, his right-hand man, as Intelligence Chief.[5]
So, therefore, the burning question now is crystal clear, who is the man that rules Syria?
A labelled terrorist by the US and the UK, with a $10 million bounty on his head, who fought US soldiers in Iraq alongside jihadi insurgents between 2003 and 2006 and later returned to Syria in 2011, playing key roles in both the Islamic State and al-Qaida?[6] Within the Hayat Tahrir al Sham, the hardline jihadist ideology, undoubtedly, persists among senior leaders and fighters. It is not entirely improbable that any shift toward moderation is merely a superficial façade, an attempt to rebrand without abandoning long-term radical goals.
In the end, Ahmad al-Sharaa’s rise to power signals a turning point in Syria. Once a key figure in the global jihadist movement, now he is leading a nation devasted by years of conflict, promising reform, inclusion, and a democratic future. Is Syria truly entering a new era of genuine change? If we judge from the latest brutal terrorist attack, on Sunday 22nd June against Orthodox Christians on the Church of Prophet Elijah (Elias) in Damascus then we can’t expect a bright future for Syria and its people (especially minorities) under the rule of Ahmad al Sharaa.
Sources
[1] Christou, William. “Rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa made transitional president of Syria”, Guardian, January 29, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/rebel-leader-ahmad-al-sharaa-made-transitional-president-of-syria.
[2] Guardian. “The Guardian view on Ahmed al-Sharaa and HTS: seeking to rebuild Syria while branded as terrorists”, Guardian, December 22, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/22/the-guardian-view-on-ahmed-al-sharaa-and-hts-seeking-to-rebuild-syria-while-branded-as-terrorists.
[3] Sharawi, Ahmad. “Ahmad al Sharaa’s Victory Conference: Syria’s new era and an exclusive translation of Sharaa’s speech”, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, FDD’s Long War Journal, January 30, 2025, https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op_eds/2025/01/30/ahmad-al-sharaas-victory-conference-syrias-new-era-and-an-exclusive-translation-of-sharaas-speech/.
[4] Sharawi, Ahmad. “Syria’s National Dialogue Committee: A Facade of Inclusivity”, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Policy Brief, February 14, 2025, https://www.fdd.org/analysis/policy_briefs/2025/02/14/syrias-national-dialogue-committee-a-facade-of-inclusivity/.
[5] Sharawi, Ahmad. “From Al-Qaeda Commander to Syrian President: Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s Ascent”, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Policy Brief, February 3, 2025, https://www.fdd.org/analysis/policy_briefs/2025/02/03/from-al-qaeda-commander-to-syrian-president-ahmad-al-sharaas-ascent/.
[6] Burke, Jason. “Syria’s new leader has two identities – but which one will take the country forward?”, Guardian, December 10, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/10/syria-new-leader-two-identities-ahmed-al-sharaa-abu-mohammed-al-jolani.
