Abou Mohammed al-Joulani, the leader of the rebel coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has declared victory over Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship as his forces entered Damascus. Known for his transformation from a fundamentalist to a more moderate leader, al-Joulani aims to present a stable governance model while facing scrutiny as a ‘radical pragmatist.’ His administration has been accused of human rights violations, yet he seeks to reassure the local populace and the international community as he positions himself as a potential future leader of Syria.