Ahmed al-Sharaa, higher recognized up to now as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, was as soon as one in all America’s most needed males. A decade in the past, he led Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, orchestrating quite a few assaults in the course of the Syrian civil battle. The U.S. authorities positioned a $10 million bounty on him, branding him a terrorist risk.
Following the autumn of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, al-Sharaa emerged as Syria’s de facto chief. His rebranding—putting off militant affiliations and presenting himself as a nationalist chief—has been underway for a number of years.
Quick ahead to Might 14, 2025, a photograph of al-Sharaa standing beside former US President Donald Trump in Riyadh has surprised worldwide observers. The assembly marks a shocking reversal in US international coverage and a dramatic transformation of al-Sharaa’s public function.
Ten years in the past, this man was the founding father of al-Qaeda’s department in Syria. Six months in the past, the US had a $10-million bounty on his head. Right this moment, he’s posing with the President of the USA. pic.twitter.com/UHUIrzyXtf
— Stanly Johny (@johnstanly) Might 14, 2025
The US formally lifted sanctions and the bounty towards him in late 2024 after receiving intelligence and diplomatic assurances that al-Sharaa had severed ties with al-Qaeda and was cooperating in efforts to forestall terrorist threats towards the US and its allies.
Al-Sharaa’s current overtures included proposing US financial ventures in Syria, similar to a Trump Tower in Damascus and entry to grease and gasoline fields—strikes extensively seen as geared toward attracting Western funding and securing political legitimacy.
President Trump praises Ahmad Al -Sharaa. pic.twitter.com/siw0OA6kDD
— Noor And Alaa (@Noor_and_Alaa) Might 15, 2025
Whereas critics view the Trump-al-Sharaa assembly as realpolitik at its most cynical, supporters argue it displays a practical shift to stabilize Syria and safe American pursuits.