Ahmed Hussein Al-Sharaa (Arabic: أحمد حسين الشراء), commonly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Arabic: أبو محمد الجولاني), is the Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic as of January 29, 2025.

_{Ahmed Hussein Al-Sharaa - Anadolu Agency}

In December 2024, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria, he emerged as the leader of the new administration. After the "Victory Conference," attended by representatives of various military factions, he was declared the Transitional President. Today, Ahmed Al-Sharaa heads the transitional government and plays an active role in shaping the country’s new political structure.

Early Life and Family

Ahmed Hussein Al-Sharaa was born on October 29, 1982, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. His family had lived in the town of Fiq in the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War but was forced to leave after the war. As a result, he later adopted the nickname "Julani" (meaning "from the Golan").

His father, Hussein Al-Sharaa, graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Baghdad University. After working for oil companies and the Ministry of Petroleum in Syria for a while, he moved to Saudi Arabia in 1979 and worked as a consultant at the Ministry of Petroleum.

Ahmed Al-Sharaa spent his childhood and youth in Saudi Arabia. In 1989, his family returned to Syria and settled in the Mezze district of Damascus, a region known for being home to Syria’s upper-middle class.

There is limited information about Al-Sharaa’s education. Some sources suggest that he left Syria before completing higher education and went to Iraq, where he joined armed groups.

2003 Iraq War

In 2003, after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Ahmed Al-Sharaa went to Iraq and joined militant groups fighting against U.S. forces, aligning himself with Al-Qaeda’s Iraqi branch. Over time, he formed connections with various factions operating in Iraq and rose through the ranks of the organization.

In 2006, he was captured by U.S. forces and detained in several prisons. Initially sent to Abu Ghraib Prison, he was later held in Camp Bucca, Camp Cropper, and Al-Taji Prison, where he remained for more than five years.

His years in prison were a period of military and ideological training, during which he gained experience in war strategies, intelligence gathering, and leadership within the organization. After his release, he strengthened his ties with Al-Qaeda’s networks in Iraq and Syria, eventually launching his own armed activities in Syria.

Syrian Civil War

With the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, Ahmed Al-Sharaa returned to Syria and became involved in the armed opposition. That same year, he founded Jabhat al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, and assumed leadership of the group. Jabhat al-Nusra initially fought against the Syrian government while also competing with other opposition factions.

In 2016, Ahmed Al-Sharaa announced that his group had severed official ties with Al-Qaeda to increase its international legitimacy and broaden its support base in Syria. Consequently, Jabhat al-Nusra rebranded itself as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. Western countries, however, viewed this as a tactical move, and the organization remained on terrorist lists.

In 2017, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was formed, with Ahmed Al-Sharaa as its leader. HTS, essentially a continuation of Jabhat al-Nusra, incorporated various other factions. Over time, HTS expanded its control, particularly in northwestern Syria, establishing a strong military presence in the Idlib province and surrounding areas.

Under Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s leadership, HTS established a governance model called the "Syrian Salvation Government" in the areas it controlled. This administration took on state-like functions, including tax collection, judicial processes, issuing identification cards, and providing public services.

Al-Sharaa worked to transform HTS into a central force in Syria’s civil war and sought international recognition. Over time, HTS declared its opposition to radical groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, attempting to establish diplomatic relations with Western and regional actors.

Gaining Power and Seizing Control of Syria

By late 2024, opposition forces in Syria, particularly HTS-led armed factions, launched a large-scale military offensive against the Syrian government. The operation, called "Deterrence Against Aggression – Rad'ul Udwan," saw HTS and its allies advancing from the north and west, engaging in major battles against the Syrian army. By the last week of November, the Aleppo-Damascus highway had been cut off, and key cities such as Aleppo, Hama, and Homs fell under opposition control.

On December 8, 2024, opposition forces entered the capital, Damascus, and seized government buildings. Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, where the Russian government granted him political asylum. With Assad’s departure, his 24-year rule and the 61-year Baath regime came to an end.

Following these events, the "Victory Conference" was held in Damascus on January 29, 2025. Attended by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, military leaders, and representatives of the new administration, the conference resulted in Al-Sharaa being declared Transitional President. The new Syrian government began representing itself on international platforms.

At the conference, key decisions about the transitional process were made, including the abolition of the 2012 Constitution and the dissolution of the Baath Party and all state institutions affiliated with it. These developments marked the beginning of a new political order in Syria, solidifying Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s role as the country’s leading figure.

Transitional Presidency

After being declared Transitional President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa delivered his first national address on January 31, 2025. He announced the establishment of a temporary legislative assembly to oversee the transition and the formation of a preparatory committee for a National Dialogue Conference. This conference was planned as a platform to bring together different perspectives to shape Syria’s future political structure. He also stated that a constitutional declaration would be drafted to provide a legal framework for the transition.

The new administration’s priorities included ensuring social stability, prosecuting those who committed crimes against the Syrian people, preserving territorial integrity, rebuilding state institutions, and fostering economic development. Al-Sharaa also announced military and security reforms to restore order in the country.

To gain international recognition and strengthen diplomatic ties, Al-Sharaa aimed to expand Syria’s foreign relations. He emphasized that Syria’s political future would be determined by the will of its people and promised to establish a system that would allow free and fair elections.

Foreign Policy and First Official Visits

Following his appointment as Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed Al-Sharaa took his first steps in foreign policy, seeking international legitimacy through diplomatic engagements. His first official foreign visit was to Saudi Arabia. On February 2, 2025, he arrived in Riyadh with Foreign Minister Asad Hasan Shaybani and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

_{Ahmed Sharaa meets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his first official visit abroad, Saudi Arabia - Anadolu Agency}

After Saudi Arabia, Al-Sharaa visited Turkey on February 4, 2025. He was received with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The discussions covered recent developments in Syria, the transition process, economic recovery, and security concerns.

Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s leadership has been met with mixed reactions internationally. The U.S., European Union, and some Arab nations emphasized the need for a comprehensive political process to establish legitimacy. Meanwhile, Russia engaged in various levels of dialogue with the new administration, whereas Iran declared it did not recognize the new government as legitimate.