Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan

After the death of the overall Muslim commander of Syria, Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah, in 639, he was appointed by Caliph Umar (r. 634–644) the governor of Damascus, Jordan and Palestine.

Yazid was the elder half-brother of Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, who was appointed as his successor over Damascus and Jordan by Umar and gradually became governor over all of Syria.

Yazid was a son of Abu Sufyan, a chief of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca, belonging to the Umayya branch of its Banu Abd Shams clan.

He was among the Qurayshites who the Islamic prophet won over through his generosity, in his case receiving a present of one hundred camels and forty ounces of silver.

[6] Following the fall of city in 635,[7] or later in 637, Yazid became the deputy governor of Damascus under Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah's overall command over the Muslims in Syria.

[12] When Abu Ubayda died in the plague of Amwas in 639, Yazid was appointed by Caliph Umar (r. 634–644) as the governor of Damascus, Jordan and Palestine.