UN report sees no active ties between Syrian state and Al Qaeda

United Nations sanctions monitors have seen no “active ties” this year between Al Qaeda and the Islamist group leading Syria’s interim government, an unpublished UN report says, a finding that could strengthen an expected US push for removing UN sanctions on Syria.

The report, seen by Reuters, is likely to be published this month.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is Al Qaeda’s former branch in Syria but broke ties in 2016. The group, previously known as al-Nusra Front, led the rebellion that toppled President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive in December, and HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa became Syria’s interim president.

The report comes as diplomats expect the United States to seek the removal of UN sanctions on HTS and Sharaa, who has said he wants to build an inclusive Syria with equal rights for all.