Damascus: Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, a 45-year-old leader of the Islamic Alliance, who overthrew the Assad regime in Syria, has emerged as a key figure in the region’s complex political and militant landscape. Questions about his background and rise to prominence are natural as his influence continues to grow.
Born in 1982 in the town of Majdal near Damascus, al-Jolani’s roots trace back to Palestine. His family was displaced to Syria during the 1967 war when Israel annexed the Golan Heights. Beginning his journey as a jihadist, al-Jolani’s path has been marked by significant shifts in allegiance and ideology.
He initially joined al-Qaeda, receiving training and operational experience in Iraq. After spending five years in captivity, he returned to Syria following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Back in Syria, al-Jolani established Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which became the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda.
In March 2011, during the early days of the uprising against the Assad regime, al-Jolani played a prominent role, uniting Islamist militant groups and local militias to form the Islamic Alliance, also known as the al-Nusra Front. Despite pressure to join the Islamic State (ISIS) when it was founded by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2013, al-Jolani refused and reaffirmed his loyalty to al-Qaeda.
With support from Western countries, including the U.S. and Israel, al-Jolani’s coalition worked to overthrow the Assad government. His trajectory, from a jihadist foot soldier to a pivotal player in Syria’s ongoing conflict, underscores his controversial yet undeniable impact on the region’s power dynamics
