UN Security Council Lifts Sanctions on Main Jihadist Group in Syria

The United Nations Security Council has made a groundbreaking and controversial decision to lift sanctions on the Syrian jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The decision, which came into effect on Friday, February 27, means removing HTS from the list of entities subject to the sanctions regime of the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. The proposal was submitted by Russia and was unanimously voted on by the UN Security Council's sanctions committee. The immediate consequence is the lifting of the travel ban and the order to freeze financial assets against HTS members and structures, which had been in place since 2017. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has received a formal mandate to notify all member states of this significant change. The decision marks a shift in the international approach to one of the key forces in the ongoing Syrian conflict, which has lasted over a decade. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which originated from the al-Nusra Front – the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda – is today the most powerful armed formation in northwestern Syria and exercises de facto control over Idlib province. Despite publicly announcing the severing of ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016, the group remains on the terrorist organization lists of the United States, Turkey, and a number of other countries.The conflict in Syria erupted in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring as peaceful protests against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which quickly escalated into a bloody civil war involving numerous foreign actors. Over the years, hundreds of rebel and jihadist groups operated in the country, some of which, like the Islamic State (ISIS), temporarily gained vast territories. Interventions by Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the international coalition led by the US further complicated the situation, leading to a de facto division of Syria into spheres of influence. The lifting of sanctions by the UN can be interpreted as recognition of HTS's changing role. The group has evolved from a purely military jihadist formation towards a quasi-state administration that manages the daily lives of millions of residents in Idlib. The Security Council's decision may reflect the pragmatic approach of part of the international community, which sees HTS as an actor that is currently unavoidable and must be reckoned with to some extent for the stabilization of the region. On the other hand, this step raises serious concerns about the possible legitimization of an organization with terrorist roots and sends a contradictory signal in the global fight against terrorism. The impact of the decision on the ground situation in Idlib and on future political negotiations concerning Syria remains uncertain. It is also unknown whether individual countries, particularly the USA, will comply with the UN decision or maintain their own national sanctions against HTS.

Perspektywy mediów: The decision can be seen as a dangerous recognition and normalization of a jihadist group, undermining the principles of counter-terrorism and rewarding violence. The decision is a pragmatic step that reflects the reality on the ground and may help stabilize the Idlib region, where HTS is the only functioning authority.