Syria's regime change: Jolani rises as Assad exits

On Sunday, Syrian rebels announced that they had taken power in the country. Two organizations are involved in the action: HTS, also known as the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham under the leadership of Abu Muhammad al-Jolani and the Syrian National Army. There are reports that Turkey helped coordinate the rebel offensive and gave it the go-ahead. However, Turkish authorities officially deny playing any role in recent events in Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew out of Damascus on Sunday in an unknown direction. On the same day, reports emerged that he had died in a plane crash. Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Gazi al-Jalali stated that since Saturday evening, it is unclear where the ousted Syrian president is. However, a few hours later, the Russian Foreign Ministry, which had supported his regime for years, announced that he had left the country. Assad's family is reportedly in Russia.

A critical role in the events in Syria is played by the aforementioned Islamist group HTS and its leader, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. It was he, along with two companions, who announced in a televised statement the liberation of Syria's capital and the overthrow of Assad after his 24-year rule. HTS is now the most powerful armed opposition in Syria.

On Friday, Jolani gave an interview to CNN, which—as emphasized by the station—took place in broad daylight with minimal protection. He stated that the goal of the Syrian rebel coalition is ultimately to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. He spoke about plans to establish a government based on institutions and a "council chosen by the people."

- The seeds of the regime’s defeat have always been within it… the Iranians attempted to revive the regime, buying it time, and later the Russians also tried to prop it up. But the truth remains: this regime is dead - Jawlani said on Friday.

On Sunday, the HTS leader announced that Syrian state institutions would be overseen by former Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali until their official handover to the new authority. Reuters indicates that this signals a desire to ensure an orderly transition after the rebels announced the end of Assad's rule.

Jolani is probably 42 years old, born in Saudi Arabia, and returned to Syria with his family in 1989. Two years after the attack on the World Trade Center, he found himself in Iraq and joined Al-Qaeda. Three years later, he was captured by the Americans and held for five years. After regaining freedom, he was tasked with establishing an Al-Qaeda branch in Syria, according to Al Jazeera. During this time, he collaborated with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the future leader of ISIS. However, he soon distanced himself from these organizations.

In the following years, Jawlani seemed to distance himself from Al-Qaeda's goals, which included the creation of a "global caliphate" in all Muslim countries. Instead, he focused on building an organization in Syria. In 2017, HTS was formed, and he became its leader.

As described by the Washington think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jawlani and his rebels set their own goal: liberating Syria from Assad’s autocratic government, expelling Iranian militias from the country, and building a state following their interpretation of "Islamic law."

In 2018, the United States designated HTS as a foreign terrorist organization and placed a $10 (CAD 14) million reward for Jolani.

Inside rebel-controlled territory in Syria, it’s clear he operates less like a wanted man and more like a politician. After forces loyal to him took control of Aleppo, he made a public appearance in the city’s historic citadel, CNN reports.

Will he survive as Syria’s leader, or will he turn out to be just a temporary leader? There is no way to answer this question. Media covering reality in this part of the world emphasize that opposition forces in Syria are decentralized and operate based on different ideologies, although they share a common goal: overthrowing Assad’s regime.