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