The United States has declared it does not recognise Syria’s interim government led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) or its figurehead, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
On Thursday, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea stated at a UN Security Council briefing that HTS, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, would not be acknowledged as Syria’s legitimate authority. Diplomatic ties remain frozen, and US visas will not be issued to Syrian officials.
The decision follows heightened regional tensions, particularly after atrocities in western Syria last month, which the US attributes partly to terrorist groups, including both Syrian and foreign fighters. Shea highlighted concerns about Syria becoming a hub for terrorism, citing ongoing threats from the Islamic State (ISIS), al-Qaeda and Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah. She welcomed a Syrian interim official’s letter on 3 March, pledging that Syria would not harbour terrorists or destabilise the region, but stressed that the US would assess the interim government based on actions, not promises.
HTS, formed in 2017 from factions including the al-Nusra Front, controls parts of northwest Syria and leads the interim administration following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The US, alongside Israel, fears HTS’s influence could allow Syria to be used as a base for attacks against regional states. Shea affirmed Israel’s right to self-defence against terrorist groups operating near its borders.
The US has called for accountability for human rights abuses, including recent crimes against Alawites in western Syria, and urged the interim government to protect minorities and advance justice. Shea also noted positive statements from Israel and Turkey, both wary of conflict in Syria, and pressed the UN Security Council to combat terrorism and curb external actors arming proxy groups.
Syria’s status at the United Nations will remain under the “unrecognised governments” category, reflecting the US position that HTS lacks international legitimacy. The US will continue to engage with the interim authorities while withholding formal recognition until conditions are met.
