UK removes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from terrorist list To engage new Syrian leadership

The United Kingdom has removed the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTSH) group from its list of banned terrorist organisations, citing the move as a step to deepen cooperation with Syria’s new government. 

The announcement was made in a report published by the Foreign and Home Office, according to Syrian media reports.

“The government’s decision to remove HTSH from the list of proscribed terrorist organisations will facilitate closer cooperation with the new Syrian authorities and support the UK’s priorities in both foreign and domestic policy — from counter-terrorism to migration and the elimination of chemical weapons,” the statement said.

The decision mirrors a similar move by the United States in July and means that the provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000 — including criminalising membership in HTSH or promoting its activities—will no longer apply to the group, London stressed.

Relations between the UK and Syria have been strained since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, when Britain supported armed opposition groups. In January 2012, London evacuated its diplomats from Damascus.

Tensions escalated further at the end of November 2024, when armed opposition forces launched a large-scale offensive against the Syrian army. On December 8, opposition fighters entered Damascus, prompting President Bashar al-Assad to step down and leave the country. By late January 2025, the new authorities announced that HTSH leader Ahmed al-Sharaa would serve as interim president.

Following these developments, the UK began lifting sanctions on Syria in March 2025. Restrictions were eased on several banks, including the central bank, and oil companies.

Later, sanctions were also removed from Syrian security agencies and local media outlets, signalling a broader move to normalise relations.

By Tamilla Hasanova