The Trump administration has revoked the designation of the Syrian group al-Nusra as a foreign terrorist organization, according to a document published online today.
The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, was once an affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria.
The document, dated June 23 and signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appeared in a preview of the U.S. Federal Register ahead of its official release on Tuesday.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry has yet to comment on the U.S. decision.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham played a central role in toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and now leads the Syrian Interim Government.
Its acting president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has brought the country out of isolation, making dozens of official visits to foreign capitals.
U.S. President Donald Trump not only agreed to lift sanctions on Syria, but also met with al-Sharaa in Riyadh and appointed a U.S. Special Envoy for Syria.
The European Union has reportedly also moved to lift sanctions on Syria.
This marks a major turning point in the international diplomatic stance toward Syria and its opposition leadership.
