Designated by the U.S. as a terrorist and with a $10 million bounty on his head, Abu Mohammed al-Golani has emerged as the leading figure in Syria’s liberation from the decades-long oppressive regime of Bashar al-Assad.

He has quickly placed himself at the forefront of shaping the country’s future, with a past that is raising concerns even as much of Syria celebrates Assad’s fall.

Split from Al Qaeda

Born in Syria in the late 1970s or early 1980s, Golani is promoting himself as a pragmatic, political leader and extending assurances for Syria’s multi-ethnic and religious populations. These promises run in direct contrast to the violence and human rights abuses carried out by the Islamist groups he aligned with in the past, such as Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

“No one has the right to erase another group," he said in an interview with CNN in the days before taking over Damascus, the seat of Assad's government.

"These sects have coexisted in this region for hundreds of years, and no one has the right to eliminate them. There must be a legal framework that protects and ensures the rights of all, not a system that serves only one sect, as Assad's regime has done."

While the Biden administration has welcomed Assad’s collapse as an historic, landmark event, U.S. officials have not confirmed it is in touch directly with al-Golani or members of the group he leads, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, referred to as HTS, and also designated as a terrorist group.

Al-Golani, as head of HTS, broke away from its alignment with Al Qaeda, but U.S. officials and analysts are closely watching whether actions line up with the public statements.

“We will remain vigilant, make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses,” President Biden said in remarks from the White House on Sunday.

“We've taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days and they're saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility we will assess not just their words but their actions.

'Obsessed' with rule over Syria

Born Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus, Syria,........

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