US Removes Syria From State Terrorism Sponsors List

WASHINGTON: (News Desk) – The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a decades-old designation that had subjected the country to sweeping economic restrictions and further signaling an improvement in relations between Washington and Damascus.

The US Department of State also revoked the designation of the al-Nusra Front, later known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a foreign terrorist organization. The US Treasury Department announced related sanctions relief as part of the broader policy shift.

The move follows the dramatic political changes in Syria after rebels led by HTS ousted longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa subsequently assumed the presidency as Syria began efforts to recover from more than 13 years of civil war.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the decision would help encourage additional investment in Syria and support greater political and economic stability.

The Treasury Department said the measures were consistent with President Donald Trump’s pledge to ease sanctions on Syria. However, it emphasized that lifting the restrictions does not alter Washington’s broader efforts to combat international terrorism or its commitment to hold individuals and groups involved in terrorism accountable.

Warming US-Syria Relations

HTS was previously known as the al-Nusra Front and had operated as al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria before formally breaking ties with the jihadist organization in 2016.

Washington had announced in July that it intended to remove Syria from the state sponsors of terrorism list, a decision widely viewed as a significant show of support for President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

US President Donald Trump also met Sharaa on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Turkey. Sharaa, a former jihadist leader, has sought to present himself as a unifying political figure following the fall of the Assad government.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the latest measures provide Syrians with a new opportunity to pursue economic growth and prosperity.

According to Rubio, the decision removes major remaining obstacles to private-sector investment, potentially supporting Syria’s economic recovery and its reintegration into the international economy.

Syrian officials welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important turning point for a country whose economy remains severely damaged after years of conflict.

Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani called the US decision a “historic milestone,” saying it reflected what he described as the new Syrian government’s commitment to international peace and security.

Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh, according to Syria’s official news agency SANA, termed the development a diplomatic success that could help strengthen Syria’s links with the global financial system, attract foreign investment and modern technology, and create new opportunities for economic development.

Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan also welcomed the move, saying the institution was working toward establishing a modern and reliable financial system capable of adapting to changing international conditions and benefiting from emerging opportunities.