Once operating from the shadows, Jolani has increasingly taken on a public role, marking a significant shift in his persona. During the recent offensive, he was seen in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, after it was captured by rebels for the first time in the war. Previously known for his reclusive nature, Jolani has now abandoned the traditional turban associated with jihadists, opting instead for military fatigues and a khaki shirt, presenting a more practical and adaptable image.
During a visit to Aleppo’s citadel last Wednesday, Jolani was seen waving to crowds, further distancing himself from his earlier secretive image. He has also begun signing statements under his real name, signaling an effort to align himself more closely with his roots and distance himself from his militant past.
Born in 1982 to a well-off family in Damascus’ Mazzeh district, Jolani’s path to jihadism reportedly began after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Inspired by the attackers, he attended secret sermons in Damascus and later joined Al-Qaeda in Iraq. He was detained for five years before returning to Syria in 2011 to found the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch. In 2016, Jolani severed ties with Al-Qaeda, claiming it was to avoid Western retaliation. However, his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), remains classified as a terrorist organization by Western governments.