In a surprising turn of events, Ahmad al-Sharaa, once a key figure in al Qaeda, has been chosen as Syria’s president for a temporary term. Known previously as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, al-Sharaa’s appointment marks a significant shift in the war-torn country’s leadership.

The announcement came from the Syria Military Operations Command, which stated that al-Sharaa will oversee the nation’s affairs during this transitional phase. He’ll also represent Syria internationally and work on forming a temporary legislative council