Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Israeli Prime Minister's Office: The security cabinet has approved Netanyahu's proposal on Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone bombed a car in the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: An Israeli raid targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Qatrani, Jezzine District
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a raid targeting the vicinity of the Burguz area
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the al-Mahmoudiyah area
New York Times: Trump plans to meet with Putin as soon as next week

US revokes foreign terrorist designation for Syria's HTS

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Jul 2025 19:12
3 Min Read

HTS, which was once al-Qaeda's Syria branch (formerly Nusra Front), has attempted to distance itself from the terrorist group.

Listen
  • x
  • US revokes foreign terrorist designation for Syria's HTS
    HTS militants stand in front of a destroyed house in Atareb, Syria, on February 12, 2023 (AP)

The Trump administration has officially revoked the foreign terrorist organization designation for al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), according to a memo from the State Department filed on Monday. The move is part of Washington’s broader effort to ease sanctions on Syria.

The memo, dated June 23 and signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was previewed in the Federal Register before its official publication on Tuesday. This decision follows Trump’s recent executive order that lifted US sanctions on Syria, a move aimed at ending the country's financial isolation and supporting its post-civil war reconstruction.

US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack described the executive order as "the culmination of a very tedious, detailed, excruciating process," aimed at responsibly unwinding the sanctions program.

Read more: UK restores ties with Syria as Foreign Secretary visits Damascus

"In consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, I hereby revoke the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (and other aliases) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization," Rubio wrote in the memo.

Related News

Israeli airstrikes kill six, wound ten in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa

Stephen Walt in Foreign Policy: The 'New Middle East' is a myth

HTS, which was once al-Qaeda's Syria branch (formerly Nusra Front), has attempted to distance itself from the terrorist group, claiming it now seeks a democratic and inclusive Syria.

Syria's interim President and HTS leader Ahmad Sharaa and Trump met in Riyadh in May, where Trump made a major policy shift by announcing that the US would lift sanctions on Syria, significantly altering Washington's approach to the country.

At the time, the White House stated that it would monitor Syria’s progress on several key priorities, including normalizing ties with "Israel", addressing foreign terrorist activity, and deporting and banning Palestinian Resistance groups.

US backs Syria-Israeli talks, disarmament of Resistance: NYT

Thomas J. Barrack Jr, a top Middle East envoy for US President Donald Trump, revealed that Damascus and Tel Aviv are engaged in high-level talks aimed at "restoring calm", with Washington actively supporting the discussions as part of its regional stabilization efforts.

In an interview or The New York Times, Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, expressed the American administration’s desire for Syria to join normalization agreements. However, he cautioned that the process could take time, as Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, might face domestic resistance.

Barrack warned that this process could take time, as al-Sharaa might face resistance at home. Additionally, he emphasized that al-Sharaa cannot be perceived by his people as pressured or compelled into normalization, which is why he needs to move cautiously.

The envoy claimed that "everyone in this region respects only strength, and Trump has proven that America’s strength is a prerequisite for peace," while also pointing out that "progress in democratic transformation and inclusive governance will not happen quickly, and these are not part of the American criteria."

  • Syria
  • Damascus
  • HTS
  • Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
  • United States
  • Donald Trump
  • US President Donald Trump
  • Al-Nusra Front

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, centre, leads a Cabinet meeting which is supposed to discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, August 7, 2025 (Lebanese Presidency press office)
Politics

Hezbollah, Amal ministers walk out of cabinet over US disarmament plot

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid, line up as they wait to enter Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Politics

Only 188 of 800 promised aid trucks entered Gaza: Euractiv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India listens to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer as they meet for bilateral talks at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump doubles tariffs on India over Russian oil despite partnership

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi during a speech in Sanaa, Yemen, August 7, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)\
Politics

Al-Houthi slams Gaza blockade, warns against disarmament, aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS