The new arbiter of power in Damascus, at least for now, is HTS’ 42-year-old leader Ahmed Hussein Al-Sharaa, widely known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed Al-Golani (sometimes written Al-Jolani).
Al-Sharaa has some Gulf ties, having spent the early years of his life in Saudi Arabia, where his father worked as an engineer in the oil industry. He later fought against the US forces in Iraq following the 2003 invasion, where he was captured and jailed. He returned to Syria in 2011 and set up an Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant.
Subscriber only content
An active subscription is required to view this article
Subscribe to Gulf States Newsletter
Sign up for an account to gain:
Gulf States Newsletter is a brand of
