Overview
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s June 23 memo, published July 7 in the Federal Register, formally revoked HTS’s designation as a foreign terrorist organization.
- The revocation follows President Trump’s May 13 executive order terminating key Syria sanctions to support reconstruction under the interim HTS-led government.
- HTS, originally al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, rebranded in 2017, dissolved its armed factions in January and integrated fighters into Syria’s police under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
- Existing United Nations Security Council sanctions on HTS and its leadership remain in effect, requiring U.N. approval for any further delisting.
- U.S. officials say the delisting paves the way for diplomatic engagement, potential investment in post-war rebuilding and future talks on a disengagement agreement with Israel.