UN may consider removing terror label from top Syrian rebel group

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

The international community is welcoming the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad. But the leading rebel group is actually designated as a terror group by both the United Nations and the United States.

At a briefing Monday, the UN’s special envoy to Syria said they may consider removing Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, or HTS, from their list of terrorist groups if HTS forms a transitional government that is inclusive enough.

The U.S. also designates HTS as a terror group. The State Department said Monday that they have no immediate plans to remove the group’s designation as a foreign terrorist organization. But it said those designations are constantly under review and that HTS could prompt a review if it takes steps toward changing its actions.

HTS is an Islamist militant group who had a stronghold in Syria’s province of Idlib. In recent years, they engaged with leaders of the Christian and Druze communities and granted more protections to religious minorities.

These steps will be key for the group to earn more support from the international community.

One rebel commander released a statement on Telegram on Saturday as the regime was falling, saying “We ask that all sects be reassured… for the era of sectarianism and tyranny has gone away forever.”

The UN envoy says progress toward building an inclusive government would help secure the removal of economic sanctions, more humanitarian aid, and the return of refugees who fled Syria during the war.

The US says they have ways to legally communicate with HTS even if they are a terror organization. But if the US lifted the ban, it would lift the US’s own sanctions and allow for support ranging from economic aid to weapons.

For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.

And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app.