{"id":23354,"date":"2025-06-27T08:17:43","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T08:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kedisa.gr\/who-is-ahmad-al-sharaa-syrias-new-ruler\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T22:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T22:32:20","slug":"who-is-ahmad-al-sharaa-syrias-new-ruler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kedisa.gr\/en\/who-is-ahmad-al-sharaa-syrias-new-ruler\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Ahmad al Sharaa Syria\u2019s New Ruler?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Georgia Kiosi, Analyst KEDISA<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On January 29, 2025 Syria\u2019s 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\u2019s Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al Nusrah.<\/p>\n

Essentially, the HTS is an offshoot of the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Syria\u2019s most powerful rebel group that managed to launch a military campaign to topple the Assad regime last year.[1]<\/a> During the 54 years of Assad rule in Syria, more than 90%\u00a0of 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]<\/a><\/p>\n

At present, Ahmad al Sharaa is formally declared as Syria\u2019s leader, assuming total presidential powers for Syria\u2019s transitioning period after the fall of the Assad regime, while also being tasked with forming a temporary legislative body.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

In his first speech as transitional president on January 30, Ahmad al-Sharaa\u00a0vowed\u00a0\u201cto 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.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Interestingly, however, after the overthrow of the Assad regime, Ahmad al-Sharaa effectively\u00a0managed to move the HTS government from Idlib to serve as a transitional government in Syria. He also appointed HTS commanders\u00a0Murhaf Abu Qusra\u00a0and\u00a0Ali al-Naasan\u00a0as Minister of Defence and Military Chief of Staff, respectively, and, he assigned\u00a0Anas Khattab, his right-hand man, as Intelligence Chief.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

So, therefore, the burning question now is crystal clear, who is the man that rules Syria?<\/p>\n

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]<\/a> Within the Hayat Tahrir al Sham, the hardline jihadist ideology, undoubtedly, \u00a0persists among senior leaders and fighters. It is not entirely improbable that any shift toward moderation is merely a superficial fa\u00e7ade, an attempt to rebrand without abandoning long-term radical goals.<\/p>\n

In the end, Ahmad al-Sharaa\u2019s 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<\/sup> June against Orthodox Christians on the Church of Prophet Elijah (Elias) in Damascus then we can\u2019t expect a bright future for Syria and its people (especially minorities) under the rule of Ahmad al Sharaa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Christou, William. \u201cRebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa made transitional president of Syria\u201d, Guardian, January 29, 2025, https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jan\/29\/rebel-leader-ahmad-al-sharaa-made-transitional-president-of-syria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Guardian. \u201cThe Guardian view on Ahmed al-Sharaa and HTS: seeking to rebuild Syria while branded as terrorists\u201d, 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Sharawi, Ahmad. \u201cAhmad al Sharaa\u2019s Victory Conference: Syria\u2019s new era and an exclusive translation of Sharaa\u2019s speech\u201d, 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\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Sharawi, Ahmad. \u201cSyria\u2019s National Dialogue Committee: A Facade of Inclusivity\u201d, 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\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Sharawi, Ahmad. \u201cFrom Al-Qaeda Commander to Syrian President: Ahmad Al-Sharaa\u2019s Ascent\u201d, 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\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Burke, Jason. \u201cSyria\u2019s new leader has two identities \u2013 but which one will take the country forward?\u201d, Guardian, December 10, 2024, https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2024\/dec\/10\/syria-new-leader-two-identities-ahmed-al-sharaa-abu-mohammed-al-jolani<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"KEDISA--\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03bb\u03c5\u03c3\u03b7\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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