Britain removes Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham from terrorist list

ARK News.. The UK government announced on Tuesday that it has removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of proscribed terrorist organizations — a move described as part of London’s new strategic approach to the evolving political and security landscape in Syria.

The decision followed an extensive review conducted by the Proscription Review Group, in coordination with domestic and international security partners. The UK government said the move reflects a reassessment of risks and opportunities in the region.

According to the UK government, this step aims to enhance cooperation with Syria’s new government, which came to power following the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad last December.

The statement noted that the decision aligns with Britain’s priorities in counter terrorism, migration management, chemical weapons control, and support for regional stability.

London emphasized it would judge the new Syrian government “by its actions, not its words”, while maintaining pressure to ensure accountability for past human rights violations.

The UK government highlighted that ISIS remains a threat inside Syria, and that delisting HTS will facilitate joint counter terrorism efforts and strengthen domestic security within the UK.

It added that the move will also enable closer coordination with the new Syrian authorities to dismantle the chemical weapons program established by the previous regime — particularly given President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s stated commitment to eliminating the country’s chemical arsenal.

London confirmed that the decision is in line with a similar measure announced by the United States earlier this year, which removed HTS from its Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) list after a comprehensive review of the group’s evolving role during Syria’s transitional phase.

The UK stressed that the safety and security of the British people remain the top priority, and that decisions to delist or proscribe groups are never made lightly. It also reaffirmed its right to reclassify any organization should new threats emerge.

Under the new ruling, the Terrorism Act 2000 will no longer apply to HTS, including provisions criminalizing membership or material support. This change reduces the total number of banned organizations in the UK to 83.

Formed in 2012 as Jabhat al-Nusra, HTS was originally affiliated with al-Qaeda before formally cutting ties in 2016, rebranding itself first as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and later as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.

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