The Biden administration decided to maintain the designation of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organization in Syria for the remainder of its term, passing the file to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Three US officials with knowledge of the matter told The Washington Post on Wednesday, January 8, that there are ongoing concerns in Washington regarding the inclusion of foreign fighters and other militants in Tahrir al-Sham in positions within the Syrian Defense Ministry, and thus “actions will speak louder than words,” according to them.
The terrorist designation for HTS is a key obstacle to Syria’s long-term economic viability, but US officials said the Islamist rebels who stunned the world late last year by overthrowing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must demonstrate they have made a clean break with extremist groups, in particular al-Qaeda, before the label can be lifted, according to The Washington Post.
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed staunch critics of extremism to senior positions in the White House, including Sebastian Gorka as Senior Director for Counterterrorism and Michael Waltz as National Security Advisor.
The Washington Post reported that leaving the “terrorist designation” decision to Trump is expected to extend the period of major US sanctions imposed on Syria.
Despite keeping the designation of Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organization, the Biden administration has eased many of the restrictions imposed on Syria to stimulate the country’s recovery and build goodwill with the new Syrian government.
In contrast, the United States welcomed the positive messages coming from Tahrir al-Sham after a month had passed since the fall of the Syrian regime, during a Security Council session on Wednesday, January 8.
The US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, stated that Tahrir al-Sham has sent positive messages, but “ultimately we are looking for actions and words that explore policies prioritizing the well-being of the Syrian people.”
Ambassador Shea referred to the general license from sanctions issued by Washington to expand the scope of permits for activities and transactions in Syria, effective from January 8, which lasts for six months, while the United States continues to monitor the changing situation on the ground.
The United States confirmed that this license “reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that US sanctions do not obstruct activities that meet basic humanitarian needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian assistance.”
The US Treasury Department announced on Monday, January 6, the easing of sanctions imposed on Syria for six months to facilitate the continuation of essential services in the country.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury issued a general license allowing relief organizations and businesses to provide essential services to Syria, such as electricity, water, and sanitation, without needing separate approvals for each request.
The license also permits transactions that support the sale, supply, storage, or donation of energy, including petroleum, natural gas, and electricity, within Syria, according to the ministry’s statement.
The license also allows necessary transactions for processing non-commercial personal remittances to Syria, including transfers via the Central Bank of Syria (CBS).
The United States has previously stated that it would make a decision regarding lifting sanctions on Syria and recognizing the government in Syria based on the behavior of the new authorities.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on December 19, 2024, that Tahrir al-Sham claims it is open to a Syrian government representative of the Syrians, which is important, but we will evaluate the organization based on its actions, not its words.
Miller added, “We want to see a Syrian government that respects women and minorities and does not make Syria a haven for terrorism.”