Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s designation as a terror organisation may soon be removed by UK and others
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the leading group that overthrew the Assad regime in Syria, is not a direct terror threat to the UK, according to western intelligence assessments.
The judgment could mean that the UK, along with the US and EU, will soon remove HTS’s designation as a terror organisation. In the British case, that would help justify direct contact with Syria’s emerging leaders.
HTS’s principal focus appears domestic, consolidating its grip and helping to rebuild a country after 13 years of civil war. There are no indications that it has any appetite to foster global jihadism or allow a re-emergence of Islamic State, officials indicated.
A police officer from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stands guard in front of the central bank in Damascus.
UN may remove Syrian rebel group HTS from terror list if conditions met
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Ministers and officials have hinted at a possible change of stance. Although on Monday Keir Starmer said it was “far too early” to make a decision on HTS, the Cabinet Office minister, Pat McFadden, said that any change would be a “relatively swift decision”. [Continue reading…]