Growing push to reconsider designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
Date
12/23/2024 6:31:03 AM
(MENAFN) There is a growing push to reconsider the designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its senior officials on U.S. and international terrorism lists, especially following the HTS-led coalition's control of most of Syria. While short-term waivers could help facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, broader removal of HTS and its leaders from these lists should be earned, not granted as a concession.
HTS, which has never officially branded itself a terrorist organization, stems from earlier groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. The group’s origin traces back to July 2011 when Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of what was then al-Qaeda in Iraq, sent Abu Muhammad al-Julani to lead his group's entry into Syria. Al-Julani, who later became HTS's leader, led the offensive that toppled the Assad regime, and positioned himself as a key player in current delisting discussions.
Initially, al-Julani led Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, founded in January 2012. The U.S. State Department soon added Jabhat al-Nusra to al-Qaeda in Iraq’s terrorist list, due to its ties to the group and the numerous attacks it carried out in Syria. As Jabhat al-Nusra increasingly worked with local Syrian jihadist groups, it became a significant part of the Syrian revolution, even as its association with al-Qaeda remained a concern.
In 2013, tensions erupted between Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS, leading to a split. Al-Julani rejected ISIS's merger with his group and reaffirmed allegiance to al-Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri, marking the beginning of a fierce rivalry among Sunni jihadist factions in Syria. The group's complex history and affiliations complicate current deliberations about its place on international terrorism lists.
MENAFN23122024000045015687ID1109023429
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.