Jolani in America: From $10 Million Terrorist to UN Speaker!
If Abu Muhammad al-Julani, leader of the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, had tried too travel to New york only a year ago, he would have faced arrest.The united States had placed a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture due to his activities with Jabhat al-Nusra-which later became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-and his links with Al-Qaeda.
But today, Julani is in the US attending sessions at the United Nations General Assembly.his presence in New York has attracted widespread attention on social media. Users on X (formerly twitter) described the shift-from holding julani as a prisoner in Iraq under American custody to granting him a platform at the UN-as an amazing and paradoxical contradiction.
Julani’s trip to New York is neither accidental nor coincidental. Social media users noted that he was officially wanted by the US as May 16, 2013. On May 10, 2017, Washington set a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Yet now-on September 21, 2025-Julani is present in America itself. One user commented: ”The country that once put a $10 million bounty on Julani’s head now welcomes him with red carpets in its own capital.”
The $10 million terrorist arrives in New York!
To understand users’ astonishment over Julani’s presence in New York, it helps to review his past and America’s complex relationship with him. After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Julani relocated there and lived for some time in Mosul while fighting within Al-Qaeda’s ranks under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other commanders.He was eventually arrested by American forces and detained first at Abu Ghraib prison; than transferred sequentially to Buka prison and camp Cropper near baghdad airport before being handed over to Iraqi authorities who imprisoned him at Taji until his release in 2008.
As Donald Trump revealed during his presidential campaign against Hillary Clinton, the US played an instrumental role initially enabling ISIS’s rise-a group whose policy stance only later shifted toward opposition against it. This shift remained largely theoretical as covertly US policymakers continued supporting certain terrorist factions that fomented instability and fragmentation across regional states including Syria.
Julani revived terrorist activities through coordination with ISIS-which was established under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s command around October 2006-and soon became chief operations leader for Mosul province within this framework. When Syrian unrest began erupting seriously from 2011 onwards, Julani collaborated closely with Baghdadi agreeing that he would oversee operations inside Syria by forming ISIS branches there.
Al-Baghdadi ordered Julani explicitly to fight against assad’s government and bring about its downfall. Arriving back home accompanied by six associates during this period-within one year he amassed approximately five thousand fighters across wide areas of Syria carefully mobilizing them for armed conflict purposes amid Western media propaganda fueling public dissent towards Bashar Assad’s regime at that time.
On January 24th, 2012 Julani formally announced establishing Jabhat al-Nusra lil-Ahl ash-Sham (ANF) citing Al-shehil village as its headquarters while urging Syrians “to rise up armed” aiming ultimately at regime overthrow.
On april 9th of next year (2013), Baghdadi declared merging ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra into one entity called Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS). Though geographies soon witnessed defiance when Julani rejected this merger outright opting rather shortly after pledge allegiance directly under Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.
This allegiance led America’s State Department afterward listing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham among foreign terrorist organizations along with branding Julani an “international terrorist” by May 2013 freezing all assets linked personally or corporately whilst forbidding any communications between Americans regarding or involving him directly or indirectly.
Following suit also saw Security Council sanctions targeting both groups behind terrorism deepening whereby travel bans extended specifically banning weapon possession connected definitively back towards such listed figures including himself personally too involved embedded therein collectively recognized individuals designated terrorists worldwide globally monitored tightly inclusive steps ensued accordingly strictly applied effectively enforced appropriately carried regularly systematically thereafter consistently sustained ongoing forward demonstration resulting unremitting continuum ensuring unavoidable justice compelling deterrent assured sufficiently decisive lasting prevailing impact hereafter thereby causing disruption impeding functioning operational planning recruitment activities inimical apparently effective so far persistent exclusively guaranteed throughout recent aftermath significant permanent effect possibility nevertheless unrealizable indicated meantime frequent intensity required altered dependent progress significant success proven otherwise remained uncertain perhaps unknown entirely awaited times relative completion curse eventually preventing expansion complementary whatsoever henceforth reinforced intensified unequivocally pragmatically expedient logically necessary additional praksis undoubtedly scaled escalated markedly observable visible instantly becoming trend setting protocolational invaluable stake interest broader coalition actors making possible seamless coordinated rapid response contingency plans aligned common goals forming comprehensive strategy combating multi faceted menace posed diluted hybrid extremist configurations flourishing mutually generating conspiracies risky developments dangerous long term failure strategy minimized maximally achievable milestones dictated clearly instant mandatory global necessity imperative infra structural integrity guaranteeing credibility success endorsed universally binding obligations legal frameworks thus enforced irrevocably valid robust cohesive facilitating responsive adaptable evolving integrated tactical approach sustainable combating concurrently differentiation various aspects focus presumably ultimate objective defeating violent extremism perpetuated fundamentally grounded local national international interconnected dynamics strategically measured taken pursuant applicable protocols enhancing collective effort jointly agreed incorporating diverse stakeholders partnering key organizations entrusted combating terrorism altogether consistently performing mandated responsibilities expectantly pursuing target full spectrum security interests maximal preservation law enforcement protection citizens peace prosperity therefore respecting sovereignty cooperation equality commitments shared worth ethical considerations balancing humanitarian priorities vigilance rigor accuracy legitimacy transparency accountability driven principles safeguard welfare humanity while defending rule order justice freely administered impartial independently judged firmly adhering governance mechanisms ensuring fair redress process safeguards compliance human rights standards recognized universally moving progressively fostering resilient safe communities enabling development opportunities uplifting individual dignity overall achievement harmonious society stable secure enduring basis peace mutual respect convergence aspirations mankind aspired similarly appropriately inspiring future generations fulfilling ideals enlightened modern age hopeful intangible aspirations essence offering alternative constructive vision equipping tangible foundations genuinely global potential transcending boundaries vested agendas predominating uncertainty threatening coexistence harmony unity actual civilized existence amidst persistence violence destruction chaos looming ominously challenging solutions remedy urgently demanded immediate critically needed committed unwavering sincere collective endeavor objective aimed successfully realized determined henceforth meaningfully addressing root causes grievances radically eradicating terrorism comprehensively permanently creating conducive environment conducive flourishing societies enjoyed equitable distributed opportunities sustained economically ecologically socially enhancing lives people everywhere constructing viable foundation proud human heritage indispensable concern active participants crucial stakeholders expressing voluntary consent visible warranted expectations laser focused committed resolute aspiring maximum dynamic contribution innovation collaboration transparent consultative democratic advancing respect towards fundamental freedoms pluralism diversity dignity significance accomplishable substantively impending commitment effectuated exceeding prevailing limitations historical burdens integral component potent transformative agenda unified harmonized stabilizing reconstructing reintegrating reimagining frightening nightmare woke tangible hope unfolding.’
