UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — UN lifts sanctions on Syria’s HTS, a jihadist group once led by Sharaa

Q1. Which country held the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council in February 2026 and, in that capacity, announced the consensus decision of the 1267 Sanctions Committee to delist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham?

  • A. United States
  • B. United Kingdom
  • C. France
  • D. China

Q2. With reference to the United Nations sanctions action against Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in February 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The sanctions were lifted by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015). 2. The delisting ended the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo applicable to the entity. 3. The entity had been originally added to the consolidated sanctions list in 2014 under the name 'Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant'. 4. The delisting was effected through a fresh Security Council resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The sanctions were lifted by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015).
  2. The delisting ended the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo applicable to the entity.
  3. The entity had been originally added to the consolidated sanctions list in 2014 under the name 'Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant'.
  4. The delisting was effected through a fresh Security Council resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q3. Which of the following UN entities directly maintains the consolidated sanctions list (assets freeze, travel ban, arms embargo) under which Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham was listed and from which it was removed in February 2026?

  • A. Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)
  • B. United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
  • C. Security Council Committee concerning ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities
  • D. Counter-Terrorism Committee established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1373 (2001)

Q4. The international sanctions regime under which Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's predecessor was originally designated, and which was lifted in February 2026, was first established by which UN Security Council resolution?

  • A. Resolution 1267 (1999)
  • B. Resolution 1373 (2001)
  • C. Resolution 1540 (2004)
  • D. Resolution 1989 (2011)

Q5. The Arabic name 'Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham', recently delisted by the UN Security Council's sanctions committee, most nearly translates in English to:

  • A. Supporters of the Religion of the Levant
  • B. Army of the People of the Sunna
  • C. Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant
  • D. Front for the Conquest of the Levant