HTS leader calls for lifting of sanctions on Syria

By Anadolu staff

DAMASCUS (AA) - The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammad al-Jolani called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria during a meeting with a delegation led by Barbara Leaf, the top US diplomat for the Middle East.

During the meeting in Damascus, Al-Jolani called on his interlocutors to support Syria’s recovery and revitalization at every level, according to a Friday statement by the Military Operations Command, which overthrew the Baath regime in Syria.

He added that the Syrian people maintain equal distance from all regional parties.

Stressing the importance of giving the Syrian people the opportunity to recover from the destruction caused by war, Al-Jolani highlighted the people's significant role in overcoming the Bashar Assad regime and protecting the region from chaos and foreign interventions.

He also expressed the need for a new era free of war and strife, emphasizing the necessity of bringing war criminals and symbols of the former regime to justice and holding them accountable.

Al-Jolani also introduced the institutionalization and development program to be implemented in Syria’s new era, underscoring the country's pivotal role in achieving regional peace and building strategic partnerships with neighboring countries.

- US delegation congratulates Syria on its liberation

The US delegation congratulated Syria on its liberation and the removal of the Assad regime.

Reiterating their support for the Syrian people and the new Syrian administration, the delegation stressed that the US would stand by Syria in addressing the challenges and issues that need resolution.

The delegation expressed its support for concrete steps aimed at strengthening stability, promoting economic growth, and ensuring inclusive representation for all components of the Syrian population, notably on issues like in northeastern Syria.

The delegation also praised efforts to secure the release of detainees, including US citizen Travis Timmerman, and welcomed the ongoing search for missing American journalist Austin Tice in Syria.

They commended the constructive steps taken to manage the current period effectively and to establish the Syrian Ministry of Defense and a Unified Syrian Army.

Both parties described the developments as a "historic" victory for the Syrian people.

Friday's meeting marks the first between US officials and the HTS days after Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.

The takeover came after HTS fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.​​​​​​​

HTS has been designated as a terror organization by the US, UK, UN, and Türkiye. The group and its leader al-Jolani, however, have sought to rebrand themselves as a more moderate force in Syria, emphasizing inclusion and a political path forward.

US officials welcomed the inclusive statements by the HTS and said their policy will be determined by their actions. According to several reports, the US, along with the UN and several other countries, are considering removing the HTS from their terror list though officials have yet to confirm officially.

The US closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012 and pulled all diplomatic staff from the country as the conflict spiraled.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul