US Removes Syria from Terrorism Sponsor List

The United States has removed Syria from its list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” ending a designation imposed in 1979. The decision took effect after a 45-day congressional review period that began when President Donald Trump notified Congress on July 8 of his intention to rescind the designation. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa called the move historic and said it would support Syria’s recovery after 14 years of civil war. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision recognized al-Sharaa’s positive actions and commitments to distancing Syria from international terrorism. The announcement also revoked the designation of al-Nusrah Front, formerly led by al-Sharaa and also known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as a global terrorist organization. The group was previously al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria. The state-sponsor designation had restricted US foreign assistance, defense exports and sales, transfers of certain dual-use goods, and financial transactions involving Syria. It also discouraged banks and investors, even after the United States dismantled its broader sanctions program against the country. US officials said the change could encourage investment, economic stability, reconstruction, and Syria’s reintegration into the global financial system. Syrian officials welcomed the decision. The Foreign Ministry described it as a major shift that opened a new chapter in international relations, while Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan said it would restore Syria’s place in the global economy. Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh called it a major diplomatic success that could attract investment and modern technology. US envoy Tom Barrack characterized the move as a decisive step in Syria’s transition from isolation to partnership and from being viewed as a source of terrorism to becoming a partner in combating it.

The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation that had been in place since 1979. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision recognizes what Washington considers positive actions by Syria’s government to distance itself from international terrorism. The move is intended to remove major obstacles to private investment, ease Syria’s reintegration into the global economy and create what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called greater prospects for political and economic stability. The decision is part of the Trump administration’s effort to build relations with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Sharaa is a former militant who once led an al-Qaeda affiliate and had a US bounty on his head. His organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously known as al-Nusra Front, severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016. HTS led the rebel offensive that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and now dominates Syria’s transitional administration. The United States has also removed HTS from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations and Sharaa from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani described the decision as a historic step and said Damascus would work to end the effects of international isolation. The United States hopes to bring Syria closer to its orbit and away from Russian or Chinese influence. However, the article emphasizes that major risks remain. Syria is still insecure, lacks a representative government and is involved in growing tensions between neighboring Israel and Turkey. With Syria’s removal, only Cuba, North Korea and Iran remain on the US state sponsors list. The designation imposes financial sanctions, limits foreign aid and defense exports, and can penalize third parties that trade with the listed country.

The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday. The decision followed a mandatory 45-day congressional notification period and was initiated by President Donald Trump in July after he determined that Syria’s government had stopped supporting international terrorism. Rubio also announced the removal of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list. The changes represent a major shift in U.S. policy toward Syria, which had been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979. Rubio said the actions eliminate the final major barriers to private-sector investment, economic recovery and Syria’s reintegration into the global economy. The move follows Trump’s June 2025 executive order terminating the Syria Sanctions Program and ending the national emergency related to Syria, while directing reviews of other sanctions and terrorist designations. The administration attributed the policy change to steps taken by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who ousted Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 after an HTS-led offensive. Rubio said Syria had joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and conducted operations against ISIS, al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Iran-aligned groups. Syrian officials welcomed the decision. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said it would restore Syria’s connections to the global financial system and encourage investment and reconstruction after nearly 14 years of war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action would promote political and economic stability and fulfill Trump’s promise of sanctions relief. Syria’s central bank governor called the move a historic step toward returning the country to the global economy. Cuba, Iran and North Korea remain on the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list.