It seems like a successful rebranding operation for the leader of Syria's so-called "Islamist rebels." Following the fall of Assad’s regime, the United States is reportedly considering removing the $10 million bounty on Ahmed Husayn al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Muhammad Al Julani, leader of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS evolved from Jabhat al-Nusra, the former Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. This news comes from an Arab official informed by U.S. representatives, as reported by Middle East Eye.
At 42 years old, Al Julani recently celebrated the victory of Islamist rebels at Damascus' historic Umayyad Mosque, solidifying his role in Syria's post-Assad transition. Addressing his supporters, he declared: “Today, Syria is purified,” attributing the victory to the suffering people and the mujahideen who “broke their chains.”
Washington’s Shift on the Jihadist Leader
For the U.S., Julani has been classified as a terrorist since 2013, and HTS was designated a terrorist organization under the Trump administration in 2018. Despite repeated attempts to shed this designation, HTS remained confined to governing a small area in northwest Syria. However, the recent lightning-fast offensive by jihadist militias, leading to Assad’s downfall, may prompt Washington to reconsider its stance.
The U.S. acknowledges that Al Julani’s break with al-Qaeda was not based on religious or ideological reasons—HTS remains a Salafi extremist group—but rather on “strategic disagreements” regarding how to achieve power and overthrow Assad. In 2017, Jabhat al-Nusra merged with other opposition groups in northwest Syria to form HTS, which later established the “Syrian Salvation Government” to administer the territory. By 2021, HTS had emerged as the dominant Islamist force in Syria.
A Record of Attacks Against Civilians
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