Abu Mohammed Al Jolani is, lest anyone forgets, one of the world’s most wanted terrorists. File picture: Abu Mohamed al-Jolani | Photo Credit: AP
An unusual photograph continues to make the rounds on the part of social media obsessed with the Syrian conflict. It’s a photograph of Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, the head of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, the militant group and former Al Qaeda-affiliate that controls Idlib, the last Syrian rebel province not in regime hands. Al Jolani is standing next to an American reporter, but it is his clothes that draw the most attention: instead of the usual military fatigues and Islamic prayer cap he usually wears, Al Jolani is dressed in a suit – the first time most of his supporters have ever seen him like that. Social media is bubbling with speculation that Al Jolani is rebranding himself as Western-friendly.
February 17, 2021 at 10:21 am
This month, the United States removed the Houthis from its list of designated terrorist groups, a decision thought wise by the administration of President Joe Biden. That move, more than simply reversing yet another policy adopted by the previous Trump administration, was made with the intention of enabling the continuation of aid to Yemen s ravaged population, amidst a humanitarian crisis deemed the largest in the world.
The designation of the Houthis as terrorists, it was argued, prevented the ease and accessibility of aid to Yemen, as agencies are not permitted to provide aid under the watch of terrorist groups holding those territories. On the face of it, that seems like a reasonable decision to make for the sake of saving human lives and preventing a humanitarian disaster.
Man in a Suit: Ex-Al-Qaeda Leader Jolani Seeks to Save Syria s Idlib albawaba.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from albawaba.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.