Biden administration weighs lifting terror label for Syrian group HTS

The Biden administration is reportedly considering removing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its foreign terrorist organization list, according to an NBC News report. HTS, a Syrian group previously involved in overthrowing Bashar al-Assad’s regime, is currently designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., UK, UN, and Türkiye.

The discussions aim to facilitate international engagement with HTS, with one former U.S. official describing it as creating “a pathway for the world to interact with the new government.” While some officials suggested the decision could happen soon, others noted that talks remain in the preliminary stages.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby denied active policy discussions but said the U.S. continues to monitor HTS. The State Department emphasized judging the group by actions rather than rhetoric.

Mostly active in Aleppo and Idlib, Ahrar al-Sham was established in 2011 as government forces cracked down on the Syrian opposition.

Abu Mohammad al-Julani, leader of HTS, joined al-Qaeda in Iraq under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi following Saddam’s fall in 2003. He was imprisoned for five years before returning to Syria in 2011 under orders from Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to expand al-Qaeda’s presence.

In 2013, the U.S. designated al-Julani a terrorist, citing HTS’s predecessor, Jabhat al-Nusra, for sectarian violence and attacks on civilians.