Abu Mohammed al-Julani emerges as key leader in post-Assad Syria

Abu Mohammed al-Julani, a prominent Syrian rebel leader, has gained recognition since breaking away from Al-Qaeda in 2013. He now leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the most powerful armed opposition group in Syria, and has recently played a key role in the offensive that liberated Damascus. President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country after 24 years in power, with no resistance from government forces. Julani aims to establish a government led by a council chosen by the people, marking a shift in the rebel movement's objectives. Julani, born in Saudi Arabia in 1982, founded HTS in 2011 as Jabhat al-Nusra. Following a split from Al-Qaeda and a conflict with ISIS, he has focused on solidifying HTS's control in northwestern Syria and establishing a civil administration.