Head of State Syrian

Ahmed al-Sharaa

Also known as Ahmad al-Shara, Ahmad al-Sharaa, Ahmed Sharaa, Al-Jolani, al-Julani, Al-Sharaa, Jolani

Ahmed al-Sharaa is the President of Syria since 2025, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Known as the former HTS commander who led the insurgency that toppled Assad, with roots in al-Qaeda-linked networks. Recently, al-Sharaa has pursued active Western and Gulf diplomacy, engaged Trump on regional security, and navigated pressure over Hezbollah while asserting Syrian sovereignty. Last updated 1 day ago

Ahmed al-Sharaa

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Signals

The explosions in Damascus that overshadowed the French president's visit point to a wider governance crisis in Ahmed al-Sharaa's Syria, more than a year and a half after he took power.

Near Quneitra in the central Golan, al-Sharaa's secur...

The explosions in Damascus that overshadowed the French president's visit point to a wider governance crisis in Ahmed al-Sharaa's Syria, more than a year and a half after he took power.

Near Quneitra in the central Golan, al-Sharaa's security forces are consolidating control with Israeli approval, even preventing operations against Israel. In the south, at the Syria-Jordan-Israel border triangle, control is far weaker. Friction flared this week between the IDF and residents of Abedin in the Yarmouk Basin when routine IDF activity was read as an attempt to take the village. The regime stayed out but set up barriers to block militants and limit escalation.

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Leaders

Reporter: If the United States were to pressure the Lebanese government to accept Syrian involvement in disarming Hezbollah, would you agree to that?

Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam: No, no, neither he nor I will answer this question.

I believe President Ahmed al-Sharaa has already answered this question, and more.

On behalf of Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, there is nothing to add to what President Ahmed al-Sharaa said, and I have nothing to add either.

Leaders

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Trump told Fox News he is disappointed that Israel has not been able to finish off Hezbollah, saying they “can’t do anything without knocking buildings down.”

He added that he is seriously considering shifting responsibility to Syria and has discussed empowering Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander, to enter southern Lebanon and take on Hezbollah directly.

Global

A Syrian source close to the Damascus government says Turkey has recently advised Ahmad al-Sharaa against being drawn into a confrontation with Hezbollah inside Lebanon. Ankara's calculation is that Hezbollah's complete destruction would st...

A Syrian source close to the Damascus government says Turkey has recently advised Ahmad al-Sharaa against being drawn into a confrontation with Hezbollah inside Lebanon. Ankara's calculation is that Hezbollah's complete destruction would strengthen Israel - an outcome it considers undesirable.

Working against Turkey's efforts, Trump said this week that al-Sharaa wants to assist in the fight against Hezbollah. Al-Sharaa is expected in Washington next week, where Trump may try to enlist him on the Hezbollah issue despite Turkish objections.

Global

Syrian President al-Shara says reports about Syria entering Lebanon are "nothing more than rumors."

According to Hezbollah-affiliated al-Akhbar, messages relayed from Damascus to Hezbollah through Turkey and other regional channels confir...

Syrian President al-Shara says reports about Syria entering Lebanon are "nothing more than rumors."

According to Hezbollah-affiliated al-Akhbar, messages relayed from Damascus to Hezbollah through Turkey and other regional channels confirm Syria has no intention of intervening in Lebanon, regardless of reported U.S. requests.

Any involvement would only happen with Turkish support. Turkey meanwhile is expressing concern over Lebanese concessions to Israel in ongoing negotiations, especially regarding the maritime border with Cyprus.

Al-Shara advised Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam not to offer concessions without reciprocal guarantees, drawing on Syria's own experience - noting that despite tolerating Israeli occupation of southern Syria, Israel refused to sign a security agreement when Damascus sought one.