US Set to Remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from Terror List: New Directions for Syria

Tue Jul 08 2025 16:58:39 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
US Set to Remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from Terror List: New Directions for Syria

The US is poised to remove the Syrian group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from its foreign terrorist organizations list, as the country seeks to establish new diplomatic relations.


In a significant shift in policy, the United States plans to officially remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of foreign terrorist organizations, according to a memo from the State Department. This decision, scheduled for a formal announcement on Tuesday, comes on the heels of HTS’s successful offensive in December that led to the downfall of the Assad regime, which had held power for 54 years. Following this change, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has assumed the role of Syria's interim president.

Previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, HTS distanced itself from the terror group in 2016. Recently, Western nations have expressed a desire to recalibrate their relations with Syria, which has endured harsh sanctions linked to the former regime. In a related development, President Trump signed an executive order in late June to rescind US sanctions against the country, framing it as a strategy to promote Syria's "path to stability and peace". The order stipulated ongoing oversight of the new government, particularly regarding its approach towards Israel and the handling of foreign and Palestinian militant groups.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the anticipated US decision, indicating it would facilitate the country's economic revival and enhance its integration into the global community. In an intriguing demonstration of this renewed stance, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently became the first British minister to visit Syria in 14 years. During his meeting with al-Sharaa, he announced a support package totaling £94.5 million to aid Syria's longer-term recovery and assist Syrian refugees.

Despite the changes, deep-seated concerns linger about the functionality of the new government. Al-Sharaa, who has pledged to usher in a revived Syria, has drawn skepticism due to his connections with extremist backgrounds. So far, only one woman has been appointed to his cabinet amidst worries over the new government's operations. Reports of violence are also unsettling, with recent months seeing harrowing attacks on minority groups, including the killing of hundreds from the Alawite sect amidst security confrontations, and a suicide bombing at a church in Damascus that left 25 dead.

As Syria navigates this critical juncture, the evolving relations with the US and UK reveal both hope and apprehension for its future.

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