From heading al-Qaida branch to interview on CNN: How man who toppled Assad rebranded himself

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, former leader of al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, is rebranding himself as a moderate political figure. He broke from al-Qaeda in 2016, forming Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and now presents a more pragmatic image. Despite this shift, HTS continues to face accusations of human rights abuses, and his transformation is viewed with skepticism by many.