Damascus, Syria — Once a foot soldier for al-Qaeda imprisoned at Abu Ghraib, Ahmad al-Sharaa now stands as Syria’s interim president, shaking hands with world leaders — including former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Al-Sharaa led the rebel coalition that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, ending Syria’s brutal civil war. Since taking power, he has promised national unity, inclusive governance, and free elections — a radical shift for a man whose past is tied to terrorism and insurgency.
“This is a transitional stage,” al-Sharaa said in a televised address in January. “We must build our future with freedom and dignity, without marginalization.”
From Extremist to Head of State
Born in Saudi Arabia to a Syrian family from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, al-Sharaa, 42, grew up in Damascus. After the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, he joined al-Qaeda and fought against American forces. Captured and imprisoned by the U.S., he was eventually released and returned to Syria.
There, he founded the al-Nusrah Front, al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate. A dispute with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi over establishing a caliphate led him to rebrand the group as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which remains a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
According to Thomas Warrick, former DHS official and now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, al-Sharaa proved more pragmatic than ideological — taxing commerce along the Turkish border to fund operations and building local control in northwest Syria.
The Fall of Assad
By mid-2024, tensions between Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan escalated over refugee policies. Seizing the opportunity, al-Sharaa, backed by Erdogan, coordinated a surprise offensive with rebel forces. Assad’s brittle military crumbled, and Damascus fell within weeks.
“This limited effort snowballed,” said Warrick. “No one expected Assad’s regime to collapse so quickly.”
Since taking power, al-Sharaa has attempted to consolidate control, unify armed factions, and gain regional legitimacy. He’s held talks with leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Erdogan, and on May 14, met with Trump in Riyadh.
Trump Lifts Sanctions
In a dramatic move, Trump announced the lifting of long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria, contingent on several conditions: expelling Palestinian and foreign terrorists, aiding the U.S. in preventing an ISIS resurgence, and signing the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel.
“We have to engage,” said former DHS intelligence chief John Cohen. “A stable Syria is vital to the region. If we don’t step in, powers like China and Russia will.”
Al-Sharaa hailed Trump’s decision as “historic and courageous,” calling it a step toward rebuilding Syria and inviting Syrian investors abroad to return.
Challenges Ahead
Al-Sharaa faces immense hurdles: restoring state control over a fractured country, reining in former rebel forces accused of human rights abuses, and winning the trust of skeptical international actors.
Despite efforts to integrate rebel groups under the defense ministry, reports of civilian abuses persist. Al-Sharaa has vowed investigations and accountability.
Israel remains a volatile player. On May 2, it bombed a site near the presidential palace, warning against threats to the Druze community. Al-Sharaa says indirect talks with Israel are underway to reduce tensions.
Cautious Optimism
U.S. Representative Marlin Stutzman, who recently visited Syria, voiced cautious support.
“He’s saying the right things,” Stutzman told ABC News. “But actions will speak louder than words. Syria needs a government that respects human rights.”
Humanitarian organizations see a chance for progress. “This could be transformative,” said Mathieu Rouquette of Mercy Corps. “Sanctions relief might finally allow Syrians to rebuild lives with dignity.”
As Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed support for Syria’s stabilization efforts in a meeting with Syrian officials in Turkey, the world watches closely. Al-Sharaa, once an insurgent, now holds Syria’s future in his hands — and his next steps will define whether hope for a new Syria becomes reality.