According to a senior official, the UK government may consider removing the faction that spearheaded the Syrian uprising from its list of designated terrorist organizations, as reported by Sky News.
Pat McFadden informed Sky News’ Breakfast with Kay Burley that a determination regarding whether to delist Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) will be made “swiftly.”
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When queried about the government’s intentions, Mr. McFadden indicated that it will be “taken into account” by the ministers.
“The decision will rely in part on the conduct of that group going forward.
“I believe nations globally that have listed HTS – it’s not solely the UK, but also the United States and various European nations – will likely reassess their positions based on what unfolds in the future.
“A conclusion won’t take long. It’s imperative that we expedite this process.”
HTS has led a recent offensive by opposition factions in Syria, resulting in the capture of the capital, Damascus, and the ousting of the Assad regime, following years of civil unrest.
Bashar al Assad, who has governed Syria for 24 years after succeeding his father, has fled to Russia and is reportedly residing in Moscow.
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HTS was previously an affiliate of al Qaeda known as the Nusra Front and has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the US, UK, and Russia for an extended period.
The group is categorized under al Qaeda on the UK’s banned list, with the British government asserting that it should be regarded as an alternative designation for al Qaeda.
Its initiator, Abu Muhammed al Jolani, severed connections with al Qaeda in 2016 as part of a strategy to present a more moderate facade, and in 2021 he expressed no intention to engage in conflict with Western nations.
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Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, the former director of the British Army’s chemical weapons division, remarked to Sky News that HTS “appeared to be a different entity” during his visit to Syria in 2020 compared to his prior visit seven years earlier.
“Even back then, they attempted to persuade the medical networks we were aiding that they were a political, moderate organization,” he stated.
“The narrative they present now is similar. Syria has historically been a secular and moderate nation, and it is crucial that all the diverse factions are included in this.
“If it necessitates their leader, Abu Mohammed Alka Jilani, to facilitate that, then we must accept it. However, I believe we should afford them an opportunity. They are expressing the correct sentiments.
“The citizens of Syria are genuinely thrilled and eager to build toward a prosperous future, but it will inevitably be a challenge.”
