Syria Rebel Leader Meets With UK Diplomats, Asks Lifting of Sanctions, Removal of Terrorist Designation

British diplomats recently held discussions with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the Syrian rebel faction Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. The meeting, which included UK special envoy Ann Snow, focused on Syria’s evolving political landscape and HTS’s call for the removal of sanctions imposed during Assad’s regime, including its designation as a terrorist organization. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed hopes for a representative and inclusive government in Syria and emphasized the need to secure chemical weapons. Additionally, the UK government announced a £50 million humanitarian aid package to support vulnerable Syrians, as over 374,000 people have been displaced amid the ongoing conflict.

Editor’s Note: The decision of diplomats to engage with Ahmad al-Sharaa, a leader of a group labeled as a terrorist organization, exemplifies the West’s troubling double standards in foreign policy al-Sharaa, also known as al-Jolani is still a wanted terrorist, but the West is revising history, see [CNN Rebrands Most Wanted Terrorist to Hero].

This willingness to negotiate with figures deemed terrorists when it serves Western interests starkly contrasts with the harsh labels applied to those who oppose them. Such hypocrisy reveals a broader narrative where the definition of terrorism is manipulated to justify alliances with individuals or groups that align with Western geopolitical goals, regardless of their past actions. This selective rebranding not only undermines the integrity of anti-terrorism efforts but also raises ethical questions about the true motivations behind such diplomatic engagements.

With these developments, one cannot help but think: perhaps the £50 million is blood money – payment to HTS from the West for “getting rid” of Assad.