In a significant policy shift, the UK government has removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of proscribed terrorist organizations. This decision follows the dramatic overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, marking a turning point in Syria’s protracted conflict. The Home Office confirmed the move late Monday, citing ‘significant developments in Syria’ as the rationale behind the decision. Originally banned in 2017 as an alias of al-Qaeda’s former Syrian affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra, HTS’s proscription had made it a criminal offense in the UK to support or associate with the group. The Home Office emphasized that the de-proscription does not signify political endorsement of HTS but reflects a reassessment of the group’s role and the evolving threat landscape. ‘The UK’s engagement with the new Syrian authorities will be guided by our national security priorities,’ the statement read. This decision aligns with a similar move by the US earlier this year, as Western nations seek to re-engage with Syria’s new leadership under HTS’s long-time leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Formed in 2017 through the merger of several factions in Idlib province, HTS initially aligned with al-Qaeda but later declared independence, focusing on Syria’s internal conflict. The group established a de facto administration in northwest Syria, known as the ‘Salvation Government,’ and played a pivotal role in the 2024 offensive that toppled Assad’s regime. The UK’s decision leaves 83 organizations still listed as terrorist groups under the Terrorism Act 2000, with the Home Office noting that proscription can be reinstated if new evidence of terrorism emerges.