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It also lends legitimacy to a leader whose past as an Al Qaeda-affiliated jihadi leader — Al-Sharaa severed ties with the group in 2016 — had made Western nations keep him at arm’s length.

Tehran's main justification for its military involvement in Syria was "to fight against jihadi groups" and to protect "Shia holy shrines" against radical Sunni militants.

Still, critics say there’s little accountability, with victims left in limbo between the kaleidoscope of jihadi groups working with the new government and Hayat Tahrir al Sham’s inability to police everywhere.

Mali’s conflict erupted following a coup in 2012 that created a power vacuum, allowing jihadi groups to seize control of key northern cities.

Officials previously denied killing civilians and said jihadi fighters often disguise themselves as soldiers.