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Snapshot 3:Mon, Jul 7, 2025 4:58:18 PM GMT last edited by Vandita

US Revokes Terrorist Designation for Syrian Rebel Group HTS

US Revokes Terrorist Designation for Syrian Rebel Group HTS

Above: Donald Trump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (L) and Ahmed al-Sharaa during his state visit to Saudi Arabia. Image copyright: Wikimedia Commons

The Spin

MovingThis toois quicklya riskspragmatic legitimizingrecognition anof authoritarianreality leaderon whothe stillground. concentratesHTS enormoushas powerdemonstrated andgenuine couldtransformation suspendfrom basicits rightsal-Qaeda atroots, will.severing Despiteties moderateyears rhetoric,ago HTSand remainsproving fundamentallyits Islamistcommitment to building an inclusive, anddemocratic recentSyria. sectarianThe tensionsgroup raisehas doubtscooperated aboutwith whetherU.S. thisintelligence transformationto willfoil stickISIS long-term.plots Theand movementshows achievedhostility victorytoward throughIran, calculatedmaking gamblesit rathera thanvaluable genuineregional democratic principlespartner.

Moving too quickly risks legitimizing an authoritarian leader who still concentrates enormous power and could suspend basic rights at will. Despite moderate rhetoric, HTS remains fundamentally Islamist, and recent sectarian tensions raise doubts about whether this transformation will stick long-term. The movement achieved victory through calculated gambles rather than genuine democratic principles.

Metaculus Prediction

There's a 10% chance that Syria will be partitioned into new, internationally recognized sovereign states before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


The Controversies



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