Mon Dec 16 00:21:00 UTC 2024: ## UN Envoy Meets with Syrian Rebel Leader in Damascus
**Damascus, Syria –** In a significant development, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen met with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani) in Damascus on Sunday. The meeting, confirmed by a statement on the HTS Telegram channel, focused on updating a 2015 UN Security Council resolution (2254) to reflect the current political landscape in Syria.
Al-Sharaa, whose group’s origins lie in the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, emphasized the need for Syrian territorial unity, reconstruction, economic development, and the safe return of refugees. He also stressed the importance of international economic and political support for these goals.
Mr. Pedersen acknowledged the complexities arising from the UN’s designation of Al-Nusra as a terrorist organization, while emphasizing the need to consider HTS’s evolution since its split from Al-Nusra in 2016. He reiterated his call for an inclusive Syrian-led political process with international assistance. The meeting underscores ongoing efforts to address the multifaceted challenges of the Syrian civil war.
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