Today's Day of Infamy: Syria Elevated

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (born 29 October 1982), also known by his former  Abu Mohammad al-Julani is a Syrian politician and former rebel commander who has served as the president of Syria since 2025. 

Today on August 25, 2026, the United States officially removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism after 47 years. This is an oy vey day!!!The president of Syria is the former well-known terrorist, Julani, hated by the citizens of Syria as much as they were hating Assad, their former President-an optometrist, no less.  Yes, Bashar al-Assad was trained as an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor) rather than an optometrist.  Jolani was a terrorist from the get go!!!Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, spent decades in radical militant networks and was officially designated a global terrorist by the United States in 2013. His background aligns with a well-documented history in extremist organizations.  

2003: Jolani traveled to Iraq to fight against the U.S. invasion shortly after it began.
2006–2011: U.S. forces arrested him in Iraq. He spent more than five years in detention, including time at Camp Bucca. 

2011: Jolani returned to Syria as the civil war started.
The Group: He founded Jabhat al-Nusra, which operated as an official affiliate of Al-Qaeda.
2013: Terrorist Status: The U.S. State Department designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2013 and placed a $10 million reward for his capture. Investigations by programs like FRONTLINE detailed his roadmap through these militant groups. 

2016: Jolani publicly announced a split from Al-Qaeda to focus operations inside Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham: He led the Islamist faction known as HTS, which governed the Idlib region.
December 2024: HTS led the rebel offensive that successfully toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad.
Name Change: Following Assad's fall, he largely stopped using the name al-Jolani, reverted to his birth name Ahmed al-Sharaa, and assumed a central role in Syria's interim leadership.
You will never find an honest Syrian agreeing with Donald Trump, but as a naive American, he admired Jolani, "Donald Trump first praised Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) on May 14, 2025.   While speaking with reporters on Air Force One during a Middle East tour, Trump described al-Sharaa as a "young, attractive, tough guy" with a "very strong past" and stated that he "has got a real shot at pulling it together"
Six months ago, he was on the FBI's terror list. Today, he's shaking hands with Donald Trump. Meet Muhammad al-Jolani — ex-Al-Qaeda commander, ...
President Donald Trump’s administration has shifted U.S. policy to engage with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda-linked militant who took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. 
Past Ties: Al-Sharaa previously fought for al-Qaeda in Iraq and led the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.
White House Visit: President Trump hosted al-Sharaa for historic talks at the White House, marking the first time a Syrian leader visited the U.S. presidential mansion.
Delisting: The U.S. government removed both HTS and al-Sharaa from its lists of designated terrorists. 
Terrorism Sponsor Removal: The U.S. formally removed Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, a move covered by The Hill and Reuters, to lift major obstacles to foreign investment and aid. 
Support: Proponents argue that normalization and sanctions relief will help rebuild war-torn Syria, bring economic stability, and stop the spread of ISIS. 
Concerns: Critics and some U.S. lawmakers have questioned al-Sharaa's past, citing worries about sectarian violence and human rights under his new government.  Yes, their concern might even go as far as asking the Syrians on the streets how they feel about embracing a terrorist they have to listen to for fear of the prison so many have wound up in.  
I believe Trump admires a person who controls many; and he admires this terrorist in disguise of his old self, al-Sharaa.  This means that Trump might feel he can control Jolani to answer to his beck and call.  Syrians know that nothing will change for them with al-Sharaa/Jolani sitting in the Presidential chair.  
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_al-Sharaa
Al jazeera
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The Hill

Money- Laundering Everywhere, Especially in Syria Through Terrorism

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                  

Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) is the president of Syria. He assumed the presidency on January 29, 2025, following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, which was toppled by rebel forces led by Sharaa’s former group, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.  Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is a Sunni Islamist political and militant organization in Syria. Originally founded in 2017 as a merger of several armed groups , it historically emerged from the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra. Today, HTS acts as a dominant governing and transitional power in the region. Since its formation, HTS has transitioned from a transnational Salafi-jihadist group into a more localized de facto governing authority in northwestern Syria, " for appearances sake.  Al-Qaeda’s presence in Syria is largely maintained through localized affiliates and splinter factions, following the dissolution and international delisting of its former primary proxy, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Today, hardline groups allied with al-Qaeda operate primarily in the Idlib province, maintaining a persistent focus for international counterterrorism operations .ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is a transnational Salafi-jihadist terrorist organization . Operating as an insurgent network since its territorial "caliphate" collapsed, the group has recently seen a decline in overall attacks in Syria. However, it continues to pose a persistent regional and global security threat

 While ISIS attacks in Syria have reached some of their lowest historical points, the group’s sleeper cells remain highly active, periodically carrying out localized attacks, kidnappings, and bombings. Leadership Strikes: The U.S. military and Global Coalition partners frequently target the group's leadership. Recent operations by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) have eliminated key high-ranking operatives in northwest and eastern Syria.Detainee Crisis: A massive ongoing challenge in the region involves tens of thousands of detained ISIS fighters and affiliated individuals (mostly women and children) who remain in camps and prisons.CENTCOM Operations: U.S. military forces regularly advise, assist, and conduct tactical raids with regional partners—such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Ministry of Interior—to destroy ISIS weapons caches and disrupt plotting. The Syrian security apparatus has launched numerous raids and successfully intercepted large-scale ISIS plots . Syria has also joined the Global Coalition Against ISIS . Ideology: Rooted in extreme violence, the group seeks to establish a global Islamic caliphate and enforce a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law. Origins: The group evolved from al-Qaeda in Iraq and capitalized on the Syrian Civil War to expand its territory before being driven out of overt strongholds in 2019. 

Trump is showing his change of taste in people he views as partners.  His favorites are the Iranian faction  that's been the ruling party for the past 40 some years while ignoring Prince Reza Pahlavi who is aiding and abetting the youthful people of Iran who are rebelling.  He also favors Jolani, former terrorist who has taken the position of President of Syria, the one the people dislike the most for his background shows up in his governing.  He says he admires Jolani because he can control people.  Anyone can  using terrorist techniques.  

"Trump declared that officially, furthermore his rule is very simple and clear, his interest in MONEY LAUNDRY. To trump and his people of interest, this is like his dummy offshore companies in Panama and some Cannery Islands, that are being run by Syrian individuals like Mohammad Hamshou and his nephews Al-Khayat Brothers. These ae Syrians who lived for more than 13 years in Qatar and came back to Syria as investors after the fall of Al-Assad regime."

"All this SO CALLED INVESTMENTS IN SYRIA are nothing but money laundry for Trump and Erdogan of Turkey and some families in the gulf region. Also I think that Israel knows this, And Al-Julani knows everything about ISIS (Leaders, Structure, Places) Al-Julani was and still ISIS.

Right now ISIS leaders exist in Al-Julani government as ministers and key officials and the CIA knows this, but it's all about money and interests and Israel knows this for sure. Iran war is nothing but interests and a play orchestrated by Trump to make money... I hope you believe believe this and make your research to know more"

Where ISIS is mentioned, USA reporters had another terrorist group mentioned, al Qaeda. To USA, ISIS was an even worse head-cutting group that they had fought against. Perhaps they are all under the umbrella of ISIS today.

Syrian business tycoon Muhammad Hamsho (right) signs a financial settlement with the new Syrian government in a picture posted by Hamsho to his personal Facebook page, 6/1/2026 (Facebook)

PARIS — Last week, internationally sanctioned Syrian businessman Muhammad Saber Hamsho completed a financial settlement with the country’s new government, a step he described as “opening a new chapter, without engaging in any debates or discussions related to previous stages.”

“We believe that Syria is moving toward a new phase defined by hope, work and building the future, through positive cooperation with state institutions, relevant authorities and the private sector in a way that serves the interests of the country and its people,” Hamsho wrote in a January 6 post on his personal Facebook page. 

Hamsho praised what he called Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s “wise policy” of “closing the past chapter and opening new horizons based on stability, joint efforts, and national unity.” al-Sharaa was Jolani during his belonging to terrororist organizations.  

The Al-Khayyat brothers (Moutaz, Ramez, and Mohamad) are Syrian-born Qatari billionaire businessmen who control Power International Holding (PIH), one of the Gulf region's largest conglomerates. Their empire is valued at over $7 billion, spanning construction (UCC Holding), tourism, healthcare (Estithmar Holding), and agriculture (Baladna dairy).

Core Business Empire

• UCC Holding: One of the Middle East's top international contractors , responsible for massive regional infrastructure including the Mall of Qatar and Banana Island .
• PIH & Estithmar: The family controls significant cross-border real estate assets in London's Mayfair and Knightsbridge districts .
• Baladna: A massive dairy and food producer that rose to prominence during the 2017 Gulf embargo and has since expanded globally . 

Global Expansion & Reconstruction

The brothers have successfully expanded their corporate footprint beyond the Gulf: 

• Syria: They have secured over $12 billion in contracts to rebuild war-torn Syria, which includes spearheading a massive $4 billion redevelopment of the Damascus airport and investing in banking and energy. 
• Africa: They are aggressively bidding for mega infrastructure projects, including competing for Ethiopia’s planned mega-airport and eyeing major highway developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Corporate Leadership

• Moutaz Al-Khayyat: Serves as the Chairman of PIH, Estithmar Holding, and UCC Holding, overseeing the group's strategic investments. 
• Ramez Al-Khayyat: Operates as the President and Group CEO of PIH and Vice Chairman of Estithmar Holding, managing daily operations and global expansion. 
• Mohamad Al-Khayyat: Serves as a founding brother, playing a vital role in spearheading regional business operations and international investments. 

Resource:

https://syriadirect.org/sanctioned-syrian-tycoon-hamsho-eyes-a-new-chapter-after-financial-settlement/

Syrian Reporter Omram al Alabi