Measures Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham Will Take to Change Its Image among the International Community

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Several media outlets have raised numerous questions about how Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham deals with terrorist militias.

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Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is considered one of the leading jihadist factions in Syria, and it adopts, in most of its positions and ideologies, hardline Islamic orientations, according to the website (Al-Bawaba).

With increasing international and local pressure to combat terrorism in the region, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham remains in a complex position regarding the terrorism issue.

In this context, there are several strategies the group might adopt to address this issue, due to various internal and external factors.

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Since its creation as (Jabhat al-Nusra), Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham has undergone ideological shifts, and at one point, it sought to reduce the public visibility of some of its radical policies and adopt a less extreme discourse.

However, this shift has not been sufficient to change its image with the international community, which still considers it a terrorist organization, particularly due to its relationship with Al-Qaeda.

The group may continue to adopt this strategy by attempting to avoid being officially classified as a terrorist organization by announcing its distancing from Al-Qaeda or reducing actions that draw attention from the international community.

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Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham may also choose to focus on fighting other groups that are also classified as terrorist organizations, such as (ISIS) or other extremist groups.

Through this strategy, the group could attempt to strengthen its image as a “moderate force” compared to these other groups, allowing it to maintain its internal support base while improving its position in regional and international relations.

The group may continue to support its military operations against the Syrian regime and its allies, exploiting the unstable security conditions in northwest Syria.

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Despite attempts to mitigate its terrorist appearance, these activities may remain part of military tactics that conflict with international efforts to combat terrorism.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham faces increasing international pressure from several countries, including the United States and European Union countries, which have classified it as a terrorist organization.

In this context, the group may attempt to improve its image before the international community by reducing public activities that could be classified as terrorist acts, such as suicide bombings and random attacks on civilians.

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Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is also dealing with regional pressures that may push it to alter its strategies concerning terrorism.

The group may resort to some understanding with regional powers, such as Turkey, which is seeking to reduce the impact of terrorist organizations in areas near the Syrian border.

These pressures may push the group to adopt more flexible plans and policies in dealing with the terrorism issue, particularly in the context of negotiations or tactical alliances.

It is possible that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham will continue to strengthen its authority in the areas it controls, such as Idlib, focusing on managing security and economic matters.

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In this context, the group may seek to present itself as a governing institution capable of managing the local situation, reducing the impression that it is a terrorist organization and contributing to strengthening its authority in the areas under its control.

It is worth noting that U.S. media outlets have reported information and statements from officials indicating that Washington is considering removing the group from its terrorist lists.

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