SYRIA: POSSIBLE COUP d'ETAT IN-PROGRESS

Source: CONFIDENTIAL

Date: July 17, 2025

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SYRIAN LEADER AL-JOLANI LEAVES SYRIAN CAPITAL OF DAMASCUS WITH HIS FAMILY; REPORTS OF POSSIBLE COUP UNDERWAY . . .

There’s a lot of misleading news circulating at the moment, all we know is that there are battles going on between Bedouin tribes and Druze tribes in the south and Jolani is currently not in Damascus.

That being said, he may be seeking refuge elsewhere for the time being, this doesn’t mean there was a military coup or he is dead.

Wait for further updates.

UPDATE 10:27 PM EDT --

The fighting is not being reported much, and Al-Jolani whereabouts are not known, with reports of Syrian-government Tv stations shut down at the moment.

Might be linked to Israel wanting Jolani gone for not doing what he is being commanded, such as withdrawing from Suweida.

Israel wants a puppet Druze ethno-state as buffer zone, and Al-Jolani is not giving it to them.

Israel launched a series of airstrikes on central Damascus early Wednesday, targeting what it called key Syrian military infrastructure, including the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters and a facility near the presidential palace.The attack marked one of the most direct Israeli strikes on the heart of the Syrian capital in recent years.

It appears Jolani may not be cooperating with Israel and he may have taken his family to safety due to the bombings not a coup but it is a developing situation.

Syrian Leader Al-Jolani

Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, also known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, is a Syrian rebel leader who has become a central figure in Syria's political landscape following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1982, he grew up in Damascus and joined al-Qaeda in Iraq shortly before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.  He was imprisoned by U.S. forces in Iraq from 2006 to 2011 but was released before returning to Syria to fight against the Assad regime.

In 2011, al-Jolani was sent by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to establish a Syrian branch of the group, which became known as the Nusra Front. However, in 2013, he refused to merge the Nusra Front with ISIS and instead pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, leading to a split between the two groups.

In 2016, he severed ties with al-Qaeda entirely and rebranded his group as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, which later evolved into Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2017.

HTS became the dominant rebel force in Idlib province, northwestern Syria, and in late 2024, led a successful offensive that culminated in the capture of Damascus and the overthrow of Assad. Al-Jolani has since taken on a more statesmanlike role, using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in official communications and presenting himself as a leader committed to building a government based on institutions rather than authoritarian rule.

Despite his efforts to rebrand, al-Jolani remains a controversial figure. He has a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head and is still designated by the U.S., UK, and UN as a global terrorist due to his group's origins and past actions.

HTS has been accused of human rights abuses, suppressing dissent, and maintaining strict Islamic law in areas under its control.  However, al-Jolani has also made efforts to present a more moderate image, engaging with the public, overseeing aid efforts, and expressing support for a more inclusive and democratic Syria.

As of January 2025, he is serving as the president of Syria, having transitioned from a jihadist leader to the country’s head of state.