United States Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List

The United States has officially removed Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The decision took effect on Monday following a 45 day review period by the U.S. Congress, which began after President Donald Trump notified the legislature of his intent on July 8. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the move recognizes the positive steps and commitments made by Syrian transition leader Ahmed al-Scharaa to distance Syria from international terrorism. Syria had been on the blacklist since 1979, starting under the regime of Hafez al-Assad and continuing under his son, Bashar al-Assad. Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024 following a lightning offensive by forces led by al-Scharaa. Simultaneously, the U.S. removed al-Scharaa's group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, from its list of international terror groups. This group originally emerged from an Al-Qaeda affiliate before distancing itself from the organization in 2016.

The removal is expected to facilitate Syria's reintegration into the global financial and economic systems. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Schaibani described the decision as historic, noting that it removes obstacles to investment and business. Syrian Finance Minister Jizr Barnieh has already held discussions with Bank of America executives, and Mastercard announced in May that it is working with the Syrian central bank and QNB Group to enable card payments in the country. While most sanctions on the Syrian state were lifted in July 2025, restrictions remain in place for Bashar al-Assad and his circle, as well as for drug smugglers, ISIS members, and Iranian proxies.

Diplomats view the move as a positive psychological signal to international banks and investors, removing fears of U.S. penalties regarding financial transactions, foreign aid, and dual-use exports. However, some diplomats note that the political pressure now shifts to Damascus to deliver economic progress. President Trump has met with al-Scharaa multiple times, including in Riyadh, Washington, and Ankara, and has described him as a tough guy with whom he gets along well. Despite this, some figures in Washington remain distrustful of al-Scharaa due to his past as a jihadist leader.