Abu Mohammed al-Golani leads insurgency that ousts Syria's Assad

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, now known as Ahmad al-Sharaa, leads the insurgency that has toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad. He has shifted his image from a jihadi extremist to a proponent of pluralism and state-building, dropping his nom de guerre. Al-Golani's group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has gained control of Damascus, while Assad has fled. This marks a significant change in Syria's governance, raising questions about the future amid a fragmented landscape of ethnic and religious communities. Once affiliated with al-Qaida, al-Golani has distanced himself from extremism, promoting tolerance and institutional governance. He has consolidated power in Idlib and aims to reassure various groups in Syria, despite ongoing U.S. sanctions and a bounty on his head.