Description

The UN Security Council Committee has removed Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant (including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham/HTS) from the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, lifting associated assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

Summary

The UN Security Council Committee (pursuant to resolutions 1267/1999, 1989/2011, and 2253/2015) removed one entry from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List on 27 February 2026. The removed entity is Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant (QDe.137), also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Jabhat Fath al-Sham, among other aliases. BSE is disseminating this update to market participants for compliance with Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Key Points

  • Entity removed: AL-NUSRAH FRONT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE LEVANT (QDe.137), originally listed on 14 May 2014
  • Also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Jabhat Fath al-Sham, Al-Nusra Front, and numerous other aliases
  • Removal effective 27 February 2026 per UNSC Committee decision
  • The assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo under UNSC resolution 2734 (2024) Chapter VII no longer apply to this entity
  • The entity had been associated with Al-Qaida (QDe.004) and previously linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

Regulatory Changes

The UNSC sanctions previously imposed under paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2734 (2024) — specifically the assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo — are lifted for AL-NUSRAH FRONT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE LEVANT and all its aliases including HTS. Market intermediaries must update their internal sanctions screening lists accordingly.

Compliance Requirements

  • Market participants (brokers, depository participants, mutual funds, etc.) must update their AML/KYC sanctions screening databases to reflect this delisting
  • Compliance officers should ensure internal watchlists are updated to remove QDe.137 and all associated aliases
  • Obligations under Section 51A of UAPA, 1967 require intermediaries to act on UNSC sanctions list updates promptly
  • The updated ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List is available at: www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267

Important Dates

  • 27 February 2026: UNSC Committee decision to remove Al-Nusrah Front (QDe.137) from the sanctions list
  • 6 March 2026: BSE circular issued to notify market participants

Impact Assessment

This circular has no direct impact on Indian stock market trading or listed securities. The impact is limited to compliance and back-office operations of SEBI-registered intermediaries who are required to maintain and screen against UNSC sanctions lists under UAPA Section 51A. Intermediaries must update their sanctions screening systems to reflect the removal of this entity and its aliases to avoid false positives in transaction monitoring.

Impact Justification

Routine UNSC sanctions list update relevant for AML/KYC compliance by market intermediaries under UAPA Section 51A; no direct market or trading impact.