British officials have held high-level discussions with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), following the recent ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
The engagement marks a significant development in diplomatic efforts to address Syria‘s evolving political landscape.
Images shared by HTS’s military operations department on social media depicted al-Sharaa—formerly known as Mohammed al-Golani—meeting with senior officials in Damascus.
Among the delegation was Ann Snow, the UK’s special representative for Syria, who participated in talks centred on “the latest developments” in the country, according to HTS.
In an exclusive interview with The Times, al-Sharaa called for the complete removal of sanctions imposed during Assad’s regime, including the designation of HTS as a terrorist organisation.
“They should lift all restrictions, which were imposed on the flogger and the victim – the flogger is gone now. This issue is not up for negotiation,” he stated.
The meeting follows Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s recent confirmation that the UK has opened “diplomatic contact” with HTS, despite its classification as a terrorist organisation by Britain.
Lammy emphasised the British objectives in Syria, stating, “We want to see a representative and inclusive government, the securement of chemical weapons stockpiles, and an end to ongoing violence. Using all diplomatic and intelligence-led channels available to us, we aim to engage with HTS where necessary.”
Additionally, the UK has pledged £50 million in humanitarian aid to support vulnerable Syrians, including refugees across the region.
This comes as the UN estimates that at least 374,000 people have been displaced by the conflict leading to Assad’s removal, adding to the millions already uprooted during Syria’s prolonged civil war.
The talks underscore Britain’s strategic engagement with Syria’s new power structures and highlight the challenges ahead in navigating the country’s post-Assad future.
