There are many contradictory reports about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Rebel groups claim that he has fled the country. Rebel groups led by HTS captured major cities like Aleppo, Hama and finally attacked Damascus.
Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on Sunday declared ‘the beginning of a new era’ in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the capture of Damascus. Now all eyes are on the next steps of its leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani. HTS was formerly known as the Nusra Front and was affiliated with al-Qaeda. It has been declared a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries.
There is a $10 million bounty on the head of HTS chief and ‘Special Designated Global Terrorist’ Abu Mohammed al-Julani. He once worked with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Julani, born Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, is also known as Mohammed al-Jawlani and Abu Muhammad al-Golani. He worked for al-Qaeda in Iraq and also spent five years in a US prison. Julani swore allegiance to al-Qaeda and its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
The al-Nusra Front had vowed to overthrow the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in early 2012. It was Baghdadi who instructed Julani to establish a front for al-Qaeda in Syria. Al-Qaeda in Iraq provided fighters, money, weapons, and advice to the Nusra Front. In May 2013, Julani was designated by the US State Department as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’. Under the US State Department’s Justice Rewards Program, a reward of up to $10 million was announced for information leading to Julani’s identity or location.
On July 24, 2013, the ISIL (Daesh) and al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council placed Julani on its list of sanctioned terrorists. This led to an international asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo on Julani. In July 2016, Julani praised al-Qaeda and Zawahiri in an online video. He announced that the ANF, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, was changing its name to Jabhat Fatah al Sham (Conquest of the Levant Front). The following year, it merged with several other radical opposition groups to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was controlled by al-Julani.
According to local media, jihadist organizations HTS and Julani have made a comeback after almost five years. During this time, the organization faced many challenges – including changes in relations with other groups, situations like COVID-19, the Ukrainian war and the Al-Aqsa flood. Assad, who had successfully fought his opponents for years with the help of Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, could not withstand the operations launched by rebel groups in the past. HTS led rebel groups launching a major operation in northern Syria on 27 November. Rebel groups captured major cities like Aleppo, Hama and finally attacked Damascus.
Assad failed this time because his three allies – Russia, Hezbollah and Iran – were embroiled in their own conflicts. According to media reports, Assad’s army was destroyed by years of war and many soldiers did not even want to fight on his side. The fall of Assad’s regime is a major blow to Russia and Iran, which have lost an important ally in the region. Many contradictory reports are emerging regarding the whereabouts of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Rebel groups have claimed that he has fled the country.
