UN Security Council lifts sanctions on Hay’at Tahrir al Sham in Syria
The UN Security Council has unanimously approved the removal of Tahrir al-Sham from the sanctions list, a diplomatic source said, in a move that includes lifting the asset freeze, travel ban and banning the possession of weapons.
HTS was previously established as al Nusra Front during the early years of the Syrian conflict, before it was included in international sanctions lists linked to al Qaeda.
The UN Security Council decision comes into effect automatically, and comes in the context of keeping pace with political and security developments in Syria.
It also indicated that a subsequent session of the Security Council is expected to be held to discuss the removal of Syria’s name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
After the fall of Assad’s regime in December 2024, the Syrian government announced the dissolution of the armed factions and the integration of some of them into official institutions, including new security services.
The name of the current president, Ahmed al Sharaa, was previously removed from the UN sanctions list by a Security Council resolution.
In July 2025, US President Donald Trump’s administration revoked the designation of the organization as a foreign terrorist organization, following the signing of an executive order ending US sanctions on Syria.
