Rebels in Syria, led by the Islamist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, have captured Damascus, about a week after taking over Aleppo and Hama, and ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

As this dramatic shift in the ongoing conflict continues to unfold, here are five facts about HTS and its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, you should know.

1. Jolani founded HTS after breaking away from al-Qaeda

Jolani established HTS after severing ties with al-Qaeda in 2016. This rebranding marked a strategic shift as Jolani distanced his group, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, from transnational jihadist goals, according to PBS Frontline.

Jolani’s trajectory as a militant began in Iraq, where he rose through the ranks of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) before founding Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria with the support of ISI’s successor, IS.

In its early years, Jabhat al-Nusra pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, aligning with its global jihadist ideology. However, Jolani’s decision to cut ties with al-Qaeda was seen as an effort to gain broader legitimacy, according to Middle East Eye.

This transition culminated in the formation of HTS in 2017, incorporating various Syrian opposition groups under a nationalist and ultraconservative Islamist framework.

Jolani’s shift has garnered mixed reactions among experts and diplomats.

2. HTS is a foreign terrorist organization, according to the U.S. State Department

The U.S. designated HTS as a terrorist organization in 2018, citing its history of human rights abuses and alleged links to jihadist ideology. That same year, the U.S. government imposed a $10 million bounty on the head of HTS' leader, who has been designated as a terrorist since 2013.

Jolani has claimed that HTS’ fight is not against Western nations but is focused on overthrowing the Assad regime. However, the group’s history is intertwined with extremist activities that have targeted U.S. forces in the past.

Jolani was arrested in Iraq by U.S. forces in 2006 due to his involvement with the Islamic State of Iraq, where he was a member before rising to more significant roles within the jihadist movement, according to Al Jazeera. His experiences during five-year detention likely provided him with insights into counter-terrorism tactics and the geopolitical dynamics that he later used in the Syrian conflict.

Before its rebranding, Jabhat al-Nusra was involved in grave human rights violations, such as the 2015 massacre of Druze villagers, which its leader later described as the result of a rogue commander’s actions. HTS has also been accused of coercing minority groups, including Christians and Druze, to conform to its interpretation of Islamic law.

However, the U.K. government might consider if HTS should still be designated a terrorist group after the overthrowing of al-Assad in Syria, according to the BBC.

3. HTS implemented Sharia law in regions it governed

According to Middle East Eye, the Salvation Government enforced gender segregation in schools and encouraged the wearing of the hijab for women, though it stopped short of mandating niqabs. Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, an expert on Syrian armed groups, noted that “Idlib has strong religious norms,” which are reflected in the policies promoted by HTS’ administration.

In some cases, the Salvation Government’s provoked criticism from rights groups. In August, for instance, it shut down a Paralympic event organized for disabled individuals in Idlib after religious jurists linked certain elements of the opening ceremony to “pagan beliefs.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights condemned the decision, stating that it perpetuated the Salvation Government’s restrictive policies.

HTS was also accused of suppressing dissent through arbitrary arrests and violence.

4. HTS has pledged to protect Christians, but many are skeptical 

Efforts to broaden HTS’ appeal have included outreach to Syria’s religious minorities. Jolani has publicly pledged to protect the rights of Christians and Kurds, groups historically targeted by jihadist factions.

Jolani recently visited Aleppo’s citadel and stated, “Aleppo has always been a meeting point for civilizations and cultures, and it will remain so, with a long history of cultural and religious diversity,” as reported by Al-Monitor.

Despite assurances, fears persist among Aleppo’s estimated 30,000 Christians, down from hundreds of thousands before the Syrian conflict began in 2011.

As Middle East Eye notes, HTS’ past atrocities, such as forcing Druze conversions and seizing property from minority communities, continue to cast doubt on its sincerity.

“Jabat al-Nusra forced members of the Druze minority to convert to Sunni Islam,” Tamimi was quoted as saying. “HTS has maintained that policy; it hasn’t said to Druze people they can go back to their original religion.” 

HTS has often targeted Christians throughout Syria in violent attacks and kidnappings, repeatedly killing Christian civilians and confiscating their property, according to Christian Solidarity International.

5. Jolani was inspired by 9/11 terror attacks in the U.S.

The 9/11 attacks profoundly influenced Jolani’s psyche, as they did for many of his generation, Middle East Eye noted in 2021.

The audacity of striking the U.S. on its own soil marked a turning point in his life, igniting his admiration for the attackers whom he saw as “exceptional” figures reshaping the world. This admiration led him to engage with the burgeoning jihadist ideology through secretive gatherings in marginalized Damascus suburbs like Hajira, Sbeneh and Drosha, marking the beginnings of his radicalization, according to the Eye.

The onset of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 presented Jolani with a personal challenge to emulate his idol, Osama bin Laden, not just in appearance but in deeds, striving to carve out his distinct legacy separate from his father’s nostalgic tales of Iraq, the publication added.

During this period, he departed from his father’s ideals of pan-Arabism, and embraced a more radical and straightforward ideology that could galvanize jihadists and other militants during conflict.

In 2003, leveraging jihadi support networks within Syria, Jolani moved to Iraq to join Saraya al-Mujahideen, a notable jihadist faction in Mosul. This group later pledged allegiance to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leading to its integration into what would become the Islamic State.

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