Washington: The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending the country’s 47-year designation and removing what Washington described as one of the final major barriers to private investment and Syria’s reintegration into the global economy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the decision recognizes positive actions by Syria’s new government to distance the country from international terrorism.
The move comes as the Trump administration seeks closer ties with Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant who previously led an al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria. Sharaa’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has also been removed from the US list of global terrorist organisations.
HTS was previously known as the al-Nusra Front and served as al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria before Sharaa broke ties with the network in 2016. In late 2024, HTS led an offensive that overthrew former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and subsequently became the dominant force in the country’s transitional administration.
Washington hopes the policy shift will encourage Syria to strengthen economic and political ties with the United States and reduce its dependence on countries such as Russia and China. However, Syria continues to face major security and political challenges, including tensions involving neighboring Israel and Turkey.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the decision could encourage additional investment in Syria and support political and economic stability.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani described the move as a historic step, saying Syria would continue working to overcome the effects of international isolation and establish an environment based on transparency and mutual interests.
The United States had already removed HTS from its Foreign Terrorist Organisation designation and removed Sharaa from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists last year.
Syria had remained on the US state sponsors of terrorism list since 1979. The designation carries financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign assistance and defence exports, and penalties that can affect people and countries conducting certain transactions with the designated state.
Following Syria’s removal, Cuba, North Korea and Iran remain the only countries on the US state sponsors of terrorism list.
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