ALEPPO, Syria — The Syrian government is closely watching how the military force of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is developing in Idlib governorate and is following up with concern on its supposed success in imposing its hegemony on Idlib and in promoting the work of the institutions that provide services in the area. The Syrian government continues to reinforce that HTS is a terrorist organization that must be fought and eliminated.
In 2018, HTS was designated by the United States as a terrorist organization, with the UN Security Council including it as a sanctioned entity linked to the Islamic State, al‑Qaeda, and associated individuals and groups.
