US removes Syria and HTS from terrorism lists to unlock reconstruction
Washington has ended its 47-year designation of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, lifting sanctions on arms exports and foreign aid while delisting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Delisting and sanctions removal
The United States officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on 24 August 2026, terminating a classification in place since 1979. Under that designation, Syria faced prohibitions on defense exports and sales, strict limits on US foreign assistance, and export controls on dual-use commercial goods. Alongside the country-level delisting, the US Department of State revoked the Specially Designated Global Terrorist designations for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Al-Nusra Front. The US Department of the Treasury also removed HTS from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list. Following Syria's removal, Cuba, North Korea, and Iran are the only remaining nations on the US state sponsors of terrorism list.
Economic and reconstruction impact
The removal of terrorism designations is intended to clear regulatory hurdles for international investment and private capital following years of war. Commercial banks and foreign companies can now conduct financial transactions with Syrian entities without facing previous US secondary sanctions. Syrian Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan announced on X that the monetary authority is actively working to establish a modern and reliable financial system.
The end of Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism is a historic step that allows the country to regain its natural place within the global economic system.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the action fulfilled commitments made by the administration to assist Syrian reconstruction and political balance.
The Treasury is following through on President Trump's commitment to provide the Syrian people an opening for great things. The decisions taken today will encourage additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability.
Political transition and armed group dissolution
The sanctions relief follows the overthrow of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 by opposition forces. Interim President Ahmed al-Scharaa previously led HTS during the Syrian civil war. The organization originated from the Al-Nusra Front, an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in Syria, before severing all formal ties with the network in 2016 and adopting the HTS name. After taking power in Damascus in December 2024, al-Scharaa ordered the dissolution of all rebel factions that took part in the offensive against Assad, including HTS. US President Donald Trump hosted al-Scharaa at the White House in November 2025, maintaining close diplomatic ties despite criticism from Israeli officials.
- The United States places Syria on its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
- Al-Nusra Front severs ties with Al-Qaeda and rebrands as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
- Bashar al-Assad is overthrown, and Ahmed al-Scharaa dissolves all rebel armed groups.
- The European Union lifts its economic sanctions against Syria.
- Donald Trump hosts Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Scharaa at the White House.
- The US State Department notifies Congress of its intent to remove Syria from the terror list.
- The United States formally delists Syria and HTS from terrorism and sanctions registries.
Diplomatic timeline and international easing
The decision follows a formal notification submitted to Congress by the US State Department in early July 2026, which framed the measure as an opportunity for reconstruction. The delisting took effect after the completion of the required congressional review period. The US move follows earlier sanctions relief enacted by other Western governments after Assad's fall. The European Union lifted its sanctions against Syria in May 2025. The United Kingdom and Canada also progressively removed their respective economic restrictions across 2025.
