President Biden is reportedly working to remove Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list. HTS, which evolved from Al-Qaeda and ISIS, recently overthrew Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Biden’s move would lift the $10 million bounty on HTS leader Mohammad al-Julani and open the group to international aid and recognition.
Former CENTCOM commander and retired general Frank McKenzie warned that HTS and al-Julani could open the floodgates for more violent groups. “We could have an Islamic State arise there, which will have profound negative implications across the region,” McKenzie cautioned. HTS’s leader claims to be ideologically moderate, but many are skeptical.
The move is similar to one the Biden-Harris administrated pulled in 2021, when they removed the Houthis from the terror list. Just a short time later, the Iran-backed terror group began attacking shipping vessels sailing through the Red Sea. The administration then re-designated the Houthis as terrorists.
Biden’s heavy focus on foreign policy is striking as his administration nears its end, with President-elect Donald Trump set to take over in January.
Trump has already been meeting with world leaders as they prepare for him to take over next month, including during his recent attendance in Paris at the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral. While President-elect Trump and First Lady Jill Biden were in attendance, Joe Biden was not.
Biden has increased US action in Syria following the toppling of its government, launching airstrikes against ISIS fighters freed from prisons while working to legitimize HTS as a workable replacement for Bashar al-Assad. All this comes as Donald Trump says he wants to drastically reduce US involvement overseas, including in Syria, saying, “This is not our fight.”
Last month, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a shaky ceasefire deal set to expire just as Trump takes over — the Israelis expect Trump to re-arm them to continue their war. Incoming National Security Advisor Mike Walz is convinced that “everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump.”
Instead of laying low until the end of this term, Biden is aggressively advancing his geopolitical goals, potentially stifling Trump’s ability to reverse the effects of his decisions.
