On a recent global stage, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made headlines by advocating for the international community to reconsider its labeling of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organization. This Syrian rebel group had recently played a significant role in toppling the long-standing regime of dictator Bashar Assad. In an interview with Al Jazeera News, Fidan expressed the sentiment that it was time for entities such as the United Nations to remove HTS from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. He posited that HTS had made significant strides in separating itself from associations with extremist factions like al-Qaeda and Daesh—known globally as the Islamic State.
The transformation of HTS is critical to understanding its current stance within the complex landscape of the Syrian conflict. Once the al-Qaeda affiliate known as the Nusra Front, HTS has continuously rebranded itself during the protracted civil war to distance its image from its former ties to extreme radicalism. The group has publicly asserted its intention to become a more moderate and inclusive Islamist organization moving forward, promising respect for minority groups once it assumes control of the governance in Syria. They have also pledged to transition to a more broadly-based Syrian government after an initial transitional phase, attempting to garner international legitimacy.
While Turkey itself has included HTS in its list of terrorist organizations, Fidan signaled a notable shift in that perspective. Turkey now views HTS as a legitimate player in the region and is prepared to rescind its designation without waiting for international bodies like the UN or the United States to make similar moves. This change is underscored by Turkey’s recent reopening of its embassy in Damascus after over a decade, highlighting a newfound willingness to engage with the changing power dynamics in Syria. By allowing HTS representatives to be present during ceremonial reopenings, Turkey may be sending a strong message of normalization with the group.
Fidan also critiqued Western powers, particularly the U.S. and European nations, for their inconsistent positions on terrorist designations in the region. He pointed out that while these governments express concern over HTS, they simultaneously overlook groups like the Syrian Kurdish militia, which he claims are extensions of the PKK—a designated terrorist group in Turkey. This criticism underscores a larger narrative of perceived hypocrisy in Western policies regarding the Syrian conflict, raising questions about the selective nature of partnerships and enemy definitions in the context of combating terrorism.
Amid these geopolitical maneuvers, the leadership of HTS, particularly that of its head Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), expressed an eagerness to strengthen ties with Turkey. He highlighted the opportunity for mutual economic relations and acknowledged Turkey’s historical role in providing refuge to millions of Syrians fleeing the civil war. This outreach intends to build a cooperative relationship with Turkey, demonstrating HTS’s transition away from being merely a militant group to a potentially significant local governance entity that is willing to collaborate on economic development.
However, this push for changing HTS’s designations creates a complex challenge regarding international law and compliance with existing sanctions. Currently, HTS remains on the U.N. sanctioned terrorist list, an indication that any abrupt changes made unilaterally by Turkey could have significant diplomatic repercussions. The complexity of unlisting HTS from international classifications is not merely administrative; it requires a broader consensus within the U.N. Security Council. As noted by U.N. officials, member states must agree on any delisting, complicating the potential for changes even amidst shifting internal power dynamics and Turkey’s newfound relationships with previously antagonized groups. As the situation evolves, the interplay between domestic aspirations of groups like HTS, regional partnerships like that of Turkey, and the broader international legal frameworks surrounding terrorism will continue to be pivotal in shaping outcomes in Syria.