Will the US remove HTS from its list of terrorist organizations?
Following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, questions have arisen regarding whether the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) will be removed from the list of terrorist organizations. In a statement regarding the matter, the US
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Following the attacks launched on November 27 against the Bashar al-Assad regime by jihadist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria, the groups seized control of the capital, Damascus, on December 8.
After HTS reached Damascus, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left the country and took refuge in Russia.
THE US ADDED HTS TO THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS LIST IN 2018
Following the collapse of the 61-year-old Baath regime, there is curiosity about what role the jihadist HTS, which the US added to its Foreign Terrorist Organizations list in 2018, will play in Syria's reconstruction process.
US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller answered questions from members of the press regarding developments following the collapse of the regime in Syria during a daily press briefing.
WILL HTS BE REMOVED FROM THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS LIST?
Stating that there are no new developments regarding the possibility of removing HTS from the list of terrorist organizations, Miller indicated that there is no new situation to announce on this matter beyond the existing sanctions targeting HTS.
"We have heard some encouraging statements from HTS." said Miller, noting that they would monitor the future steps taken by HTS.
WHAT HAPPENED IN SYRIA?
In Syria, clashes between anti-regime armed groups and Bashar al-Assad's forces intensified on November 27.
Between November 30 and December 7, the groups established dominance in major provinces such as Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Homs.
As the groups began entering the capital, Damascus, on December 7, with the support of the masses, the regime lost control entirely in Damascus and many other regions, leading to its collapse.
As the 61-year rule of the Baath Party came to an end, regime leader Assad fled the capital.
On the other hand, the Syrian National Army liberated the Tel Rifaat district center from the terrorist organization PKK/YPG on the first day of the Operation Dawn of Freedom launched in December.
With the liberation of the Manbij district during the operation, the region, which had turned into the largest terrorist stronghold west of the Euphrates River, was cleared of the PKK/YPG.