On 3 July 2025, the United States removed Hay Tahrir AL Sham (HTS) from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The reasoning behind this decision will be following a series of events that started with the collapse of the regime of Bashar al-Assad late in 2024 and the establishment of a transitional coalition and the disintegration of HTS at the beginning of 2025. Formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda and leading forces in the insurgency scene in Syria, the group is now experiencing many of their own leaders heading to government ranks as President Ahmed al-Sharaa takes office.
The US State Department characterized the action as part of welcoming what Secretary Marco Rubio termed as quantifiable steps of redemption by the new administration. It also marked a change in how the US will be approaching Syria or rather appealing to engage as opposed to isolation. Although the decision has created some possibilities of reconstruction, it has not removed questions as to the authenticity of the ideological change of HTS and what it means to justice, governance, and stability in the region.
The Political Calculus Behind Delisting
Strategic Realignment by the United States
The HTS delisting is closely associated with a larger policy of President Donald Trump toward the Middle East in his second term in office. An executive order issued by him in June 2025 lifting the sanctions against Syria was sold as a peace-oriented step to revive the economy of Syria and reintegrate the country into regional geopolitics. This change was highlighted by the Trump-al-Sharaa summit in Riyadh, which was compared to previous diplomatic ventures with Taliban leadership and North Korea.
Secretary Rubio maintained that “diplomatic tools can support security goals” and emphasized that HTS no longer exists in legal or operational terms. The US also hopes that improved economic conditions will undercut recruitment by extremist groups and help repatriate Syrian refugees still stranded in neighboring countries or in Europe.
Reactions from International and Regional Players
Reactions remain mixed. Some of them, such as Germany, Canada and Australia, were cautious when it came to welcoming the move and others, including the UK, Italy and Jordan did so cautiously. Such governments were demanding the significance of accountability institutions and raising the issue of old HTS leaders administering key positions in the ministry of interior and defense.
In the Arab League, the nation states in the Gulf like the UAE and Qatar seem to be hedging not in full support of the new government or opposition to it. Iran, a long-time Assad ally, has signaled wariness over Syria’s alignment shift, particularly if it moves closer to the West or Sunni regional powers. The Security Council of the UN is still to register the lifting of its sanctions, as it needed to wait until further estimates of the political and security path of Syria.
The Legacy of HTS: Can Rebranding Overcome the Past?
Origins in Violent Insurgency
The group HTS (previously Jabhat al-Nusra) was established at the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011. It quickly developed a reputation of strategic discipline, operative secrecy and ideological fanaticism. Between 2012 and 2016 it became the subject of international outcry as a result of its stated oath of allegiance to al-Qaeda, and alleged child soldiers and chemical use.
HTS had its designation as a US terrorism group until this year, even though it had formally broken with al-Qaeda and reformed internally more than once. The rights groups that had constant criticism of its activities were international. Because of its actions in Idlib and Aleppo often involving civilian repression and mass displacement.
A Controversial Disbanding
In January 2025, the announcement of the disbandment of HTS was presented in the form of a precondition of lifting sanctions. The Syrian transitional government added that it had taken under its own control all the structures, assets and manpower of HTS and they are now integrated into the state institutions. But critics say that the process of absorption was not clear.
Many of the former HTS leaders now serve under new titles, leading to accusations of cosmetic change rather than ideological overhaul. The security apparatus remains dominated by individuals who operated under HTS’s command structure, raising concerns about continuity of behavior and governance style. Without a transitional justice process, the dissolution may function more as political rebranding than substantive reform.
Economic Recovery and Reconstruction: Promise or Pitfall?
Pathways to Investment and Return
The lifting of the terrorist label is expected to unlock multilateral aid and international investment. For the first time in over a decade, Syria may qualify for World Bank infrastructure funds, IMF consultation, and private-sector partnerships. These resources are viewed as crucial for rebuilding hospitals, water systems, transportation networks, and education infrastructure.
The government also expects an influx of skilled diaspora members who were previously constrained by financial sanctions or fear of reprisal. Ministries have announced new incentive packages, including tax relief and property restitution schemes, to encourage their return.
Fragility in Economic Foundations
However, Syria’s history of corruption poses serious risks to this recovery. Wartime profiteering networks remain entrenched, and many of the same figures who controlled smuggling operations during the conflict now hold economic portfolios in the transitional cabinet.
Foreign investors are wary. Without meaningful anti-corruption guarantees, transparency laws, or independent media, Syria risks turning reconstruction into another avenue for elite enrichment. Regional donors may push for oversight, but it is unclear whether the new government will accept such conditions without resistance.
Security and Governance: The Test of Transformation
Reintegration of Armed Fighters
Demobilizing and reintegrating thousands of former HTS fighters is perhaps the most precarious element of Syria’s transition. The government claims that over 70% of these individuals have completed vetting and are now employed in either civilian protection or infrastructure rebuilding roles. However, several local reports suggest that factional rivalries persist, and isolated clashes have occurred in Homs and Raqqa between rival security forces.
Without community reconciliation and consistent disarmament, the risk of future violence remains high. Local populations, especially those who suffered under HTS rule, have voiced mistrust in the new hybrid police units composed of former militants and regime defectors.
Legal Institutions and Civil Liberties
The legitimacy of the state will hinge on its ability to provide rule of law. The judiciary, heavily politicized under Assad, is still in the process of reform. Judges from the former regime remain in place, and only a fraction of war-related cases have been processed.
The freedom of the press and assembly is still not reaching its maximum. Although constitutional amendments were adopted in February 2025, independent media are exposed to bureaucratic impediments and occasional persecution. Civil society organizations believe that it cannot be achieved only when justice systems are established on HTS-era crimes, which the current government has not yet approached comprehensively.
Regional and Global Implications
Redefining the Post-Assad Order
Syria no longer has Assad and that has left room to rebalance diplomatically. States who had supported the opposition troops previously, like Turkey or Saudi Arabia, are now making a more open engagement with Damascus. Border patrols, trading, and anti-terrorism talks have resumed again, and not all people have got a good reception.
Russia may still be at play in the field of energy and airspace in Syria even after Assad was forced to leave power. The reaction to the HTS branding within the capital Moscow has been silent, but the authorities have indicated support as long as Syria remains out of reach of NATO.
Role of International Mechanisms
The United Nations continues to monitor the situation through its human rights rapporteurs and peacebuilding divisions. Any further normalization—especially at the level of multilateral lending or diplomatic recognition—will depend on Syria’s progress in rule-of-law benchmarks and minority protections.
The fate of millions of Syrian refugees also hangs in the balance. Host nations are looking for signs of safety and stability before considering repatriation, and human rights agencies are pressing for guarantees against political persecution.
Expert Perspective
Nick Schifrin has spoken on the topic in an interview with PBS NewsHour, evaluating the risks and rewards of delisting HTS. He pointed out that while normalization could offer stability,
“Western governments must remain vigilant that rebranding does not replace accountability.”
His analysis underscores the geopolitical calculations behind the decision and the need for sustained international pressure on Syria’s transitional government.
BREAKING: @SecRubio lifts Foreign Terrorist Organization designation on HTS, citing the Syrian "government’s commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms," and "the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa." pic.twitter.com/6dDa5LeZni
— Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) July 7, 2025
A Path Forward, or a Historical Repetition?
The transformation of HTS from a terror-designated group to a central force in Syria’s new government is unprecedented. But whether it marks a real break from the past or merely a tactical reset remains unresolved. The international community faces a narrow window to shape outcomes—through funding conditionality, legal oversight, and diplomatic incentives.
For Syria’s citizens, especially those displaced, imprisoned, or brutalized over fourteen years of conflict, stability is not just about roads and electricity. It hinges on memory, justice, and inclusion. The stakes are no longer limited to one group’s rebranding, but rather the integrity of Syria’s entire post-war future. Whether the nation can rebuild without rebuilding the systems that once broke it remains one of the defining questions of 2025.
