Tuesday 8 July 2025 – 12:19
https://english.iswnews.com/?p=38007
The Trump administration has removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front, from the list of foreign terrorist organizations as part of its efforts to ease sanctions against Syria.
According to the U.S. State Department, this decision was made on June 23 after consultations with the Secretaries of Justice and Treasury.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this decision, stating it aligns with Trump’s promise to relax sanctions on Syria and that it will take effect immediately.
It is important to note that this decision came at a time when HTS had been implicated in numerous crimes against civilians and soldiers of the former government during the Syrian conflict. Over the years, Western countries have often attempted to portray this group and other militants as moderate forces opposing the Assad regime.
This move has drawn criticism from some analysts who argue that removing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from the list of terrorist organizations could empower extremist groups in Syria and negatively affect the broader West Asian region.