Overview
- The Home Office laid an order in Parliament on 21 October to remove HTS, lifting Terrorism Act offences covering membership and inviting support.
- Officials frame the step as enabling cooperation on counter‑Daesh operations, migration management and elimination of Assad‑era chemical weapons.
- HTS was designated in 2017 as an alias of Al‑Qa’ida, and the UK move aligns with the United States’ delisting earlier this year.
- The shift follows renewed diplomatic contact, including David Lammy’s July visit to Damascus and the rise of interim president Ahmed Al‑Sharaa.
- Political and international pushback has mounted, with Priti Patel calling for an urgent Commons explanation and Russia accusing allies of double standards, while the UK says it can re‑proscribe HTS if threats re‑emerge.