The United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on August 24, 2026, ending a designation imposed since 1979. The decision also revoked the terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly al-Nusrah Front, which severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016 and led the 2024 overthrow of former leader Bashar al-Assad [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].
Ahmed al-Sharaa, former HTS militant leader, became Syria’s president after the 2024 rebellion and welcomed the US move as historic. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also praised the decision, saying the country would continue efforts to remove isolation and foster transparency and mutual respect with international partners [1, 9, 6, 7, 10, 11].
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted this change as recognition of Syria’s government under al-Sharaa distancing itself from international terrorism. Rubio noted the removal "opens a path to prosperity for the Syrian people" by eliminating major barriers to private investment [1]. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action "will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability" [2].
The sanctions relief lifts significant legal and financial restrictions that had hindered foreign economic engagement with Syria for 47 years. The US Treasury emphasized that the move does not alter America’s commitment to fighting global terrorism or accountability for bad actors [2, 4, 12, 6, 7].
The US decision followed a 45-day congressional review after then-President Donald Trump notified Congress on July 8, 2026, of the intent to remove Syria from the terrorism list [3, 5, 8]. With Syria delisted, only Cuba, Iran, and North Korea remain on the US state sponsors of terrorism list [1, 3, 4].
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa called the removal "shedding a dark stain from its shoulders" and a step toward reconstruction and development. Syrian officials plan to use the change as a foundation for economic recovery and reintegration into the global system [1, 11]. The US move stands as the latest significant policy shift following HTS's 2024 rise to power and marks a new phase in Syria’s international relations.
Syrian leaders and US officials alike anticipate increased foreign investment and deeper economic ties will follow. The next expected development will be monitoring how the easing of sanctions affects Syria’s political and economic landscape.
