The United States is currently not reviewing the terrorist designation of the leading Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as stated by a State Department spokesperson. However, there is a possibility of a future change in this designation based on the group's actions. The spokesperson emphasized that the US continuously evaluates its sanctions posture towards entities, and any changes are influenced by the actions taken by those entities.
It was mentioned that the purpose of such designations, including US sanctions, is to serve as an incentive for entities to pursue different courses of action. While HTS has expressed intentions towards inclusion and a political process, the US will assess the group based on its actions rather than words. The spokesperson highlighted that the US policy response will be shaped by the actions taken by HTS.
Despite being designated as a terrorist group, the US maintains the ability to engage in communication with HTS. The US aims to have discussions with key groups in Syria, either directly or indirectly, which includes HTS. However, there was no confirmation provided on whether the US plans to directly contact HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
HTS and Jolani have origins linked to the terrorist organization al Qaeda but have made efforts to distance themselves from their terrorist past. The US remains vigilant in monitoring the actions of HTS and will base its interactions and decisions on the group's conduct moving forward.
