The United States announced the removal of Syria from its designated list of state sponsors of terrorism, a status the country had held since 1979. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attributed the decision to what he described as positive measures taken by Syria’s government to distance itself from international terrorism. The delisting is intended to eliminate significant barriers to private sector investment and facilitate Syria’s reintegration into the global economy.
The Trump administration has signaled support for Syria’s current leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose militant background includes previous designation as a terrorist by the US. His organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was simultaneously removed from the American list of designated global terrorist organizations. The group, which previously operated as al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate under the name al-Nusra Front, separated from the jihadist network in 2016 and led the military campaign that resulted in the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
US officials emphasized the economic benefits of the decision. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the action would encourage additional investment in Syria to support political and economic stability. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani characterized the development as a historic achievement and pledged continued efforts to address the effects of international isolation while establishing conditions based on transparency and mutual respect.
The removal leaves only three countries on the US state sponsors of terrorism list: Cuba, North Korea, and Iran. The designation carries significant consequences including financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign aid, defense exports, and potential penalties for countries and entities conducting trade with designated states. Observers note that while the US strategy aims to orient Syria toward American rather than Russian or Chinese influence, substantial challenges remain, including ongoing instability within the country and escalating tensions between Syria’s neighbors Israel and Turkey.
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