By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian news Finland
Who Is Abu Mohammad al-Jolani?
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now known as Ahmad al-Sharaa, is the current de facto leader of Syria following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The world took notice in late 2024 when HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), the faction under his command, executed a rapid offensive throughout Syrian territory, culminating in the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s decades-long rule and the fall of Damascus.
However, declassified records and publicly documented audio communications reveal a significantly different earlier chapter of his career.
Baghdadi Sent Jolani to Syria to Found al-Nusra
According to documented accounts and statements attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the late founder and leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), it was Baghdadi himself who dispatched Jolani from Iraq to Syria with a specific mission to establish Jabhat al-Nusra as a Syrian extension of ISIS.
Jabhat al-Nusra, founded in 2012, was formally designated a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Nations, and multiple Western governments due to its direct affiliation with al-Qaeda.
Jolani Acknowledged Baghdadi’s Support
In audio communications that became public, Jolani acknowledged and thanked Baghdadi for his approval, logistical support, and funding in establishing Jabhat al-Nusra inside Syria.
These communications are part of the documented historical record of the early Syrian conflict and the spread of jihadist networks across the Iraq-Syria border during that period.
The Split: From ISIS Affiliate to al-Qaeda Branch
The relationship between Jolani and Baghdadi later broke down publicly in 2013, when a dispute over control and merger of the two groups became open.
Jolani pledged allegiance directly to al-Qaeda central leadership under Ayman al-Zawahiri, formally separating Jabhat al-Nusra from ISIS while remaining within the broader global jihadist network.
Jabhat al-Nusra later rebranded as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham in 2016, claiming to sever al-Qaeda ties, before merging into Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2017.
Western Powers and Syria’s New Reality
The United States, European Union, and United Kingdom had all listed HTS as a designated terrorist organization at the time of the Damascus offensive.
Following the political transition in Syria, Western governments began reassessing their positions, with several engaging diplomatically with the new Syrian administration led by al-Sharaa.
Critics and security analysts have raised concerns that this diplomatic engagement inadequately accounts for the documented origins of HTS leadership and its historical ties to both ISIS and al-Qaeda.
Finland and Scandinavian Policy Concern
The case has drawn particular attention in Scandinavia, including Finland, where policymakers and security agencies are actively debating the implications of engaging with Syria’s new government given the documented background of its leadership.
Finnish officials have not issued a formal statement on recognition at the time of this report.
HTS Offensive 2024: How Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Captured Damascus and Changed Syria Forever
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