Part 4/11:
At the core of the current rebel resurgence is Abu Muhammad al-Golani, a figure shrouded in secrecy. Initially emerging as a fighter for ISIS and later establishing a branch of Al-Qaeda known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Golani has become a master of strategic rebranding and political maneuvering. Following the recapture of Aleppo with Russian military support in 2016, Golani distanced himself from his former affiliations, renaming his organization HTS and promoting a narrative of "salvation governance" rooted in pluralism and tolerance—aimed at broadening support among Syria's diverse religious and ethnic communities.