US removes Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list
After 47 years, the United States has lifted its designation of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism. The move is intended to clear the ‘final major barriers’ that prevented private sector investment and integration into global markets.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the decision reflects Syria’s efforts to sever ties with international terrorism. It also follows the removal of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham from the U.S. list of global terrorist organizations.
The re‑designated regime, led by President Ahmed al‑Sharaa—a former militant who once commanded an al‑Qaeda affiliate—has seen the group that once supported him, Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham, dismiss its connection to al‑Qaeda in 2016. The organization now dominates the transitional administration that toppled former President Bashar al‑Assad in late 2024.
While the U.S. aims to draw Syria closer to Western interests rather than those of Russia or China, the country still faces insecurity, a lack of representative governance and rising tensions with neighbours like Israel and Turkey. The sanction removal is seen as a step toward prosperity, according to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al‑Shaibani, who greeted the announcement as a ‘historic step’.
Syria’s new status leaves only three countries on the U.S. state sponsor list: Cuba, North Korea and Iran. The designation carries financial sanctions and hampers defense exports. Removal may ease penalties for individuals and businesses that continue to trade with Syria. The decision is part of a broader U.S. effort to reshape its Middle East strategy in a region experiencing rapid diplomatic shifts.
