UN Report Shows No "Active Relationships" Between the Syrian State and "Al-Qaeda"

SadaNews - A report from the United Nations that has not been published indicated that the organization's sanctions monitors did not record any "active relationships" this year between Al-Qaeda and the body leading the Syrian interim government, a finding that could bolster anticipated U.S. efforts to lift United Nations sanctions on Syria.

The report, which Reuters gained access to yesterday, is likely to be published this month. The "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" group was the former arm of Al-Qaeda in Syria but severed its ties with the organization in 2016.

The group, previously known as "Jabhat al-Nusra", led the movement that overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a swift attack in December. The leader of the group, Ahmed al-Shar'a, became the President of Syria.