United States removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list after 47 years
Washington has completed the delisting of Syria as a sponsor of terrorism following a 45-day congressional review, lifting financial curbs imposed on Damascus since 1979 to aid economic reconstruction.
Sanctions relief completed
The United States completed the formal removal of Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday, concluding a designation that had been in effect since 1979. The action followed a mandatory 45-day congressional review period that expired on Saturday after US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress of the plan on 8 July 2026. The US State Department also revoked the global terrorist designation previously imposed on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the former rebel faction led by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that severed ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016. The US Treasury Department enacted corresponding sanctions relief to permit international banking reconnectivity.
Syrian leadership responds
Officials in Damascus welcomed the US decision as an important development for the country's recovery following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. In a public address on Tuesday morning, President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed gratitude to the American administration and partner nations for facilitating the diplomatic change.
Today, Syria rids itself of a heavy burden and turns the page on its painful past to walk the path of development and reconstruction.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the revocation recognized the interim administration's actions, citing Syria's entry into the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani described the exclusion as a step reflecting Damascus's commitment to international security.
Historical background and regional ties
- US designates Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism under Hafez al-Assad
- US closes its embassy in Damascus following civil war escalation
- Rebel forces oust Bashar al-Assad; Trump signs repeal of the Caesar Act
- Trump notifies Congress of intent to remove Syria from terrorism list
- US completes formal delisting of Syria and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
Washington first placed Syria on the terrorism blacklist under President Hafez al-Assad in 1979 due to Damascus supporting Palestinian armed factions. Bilateral relations deteriorated further after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and the closure of the American embassy in Damascus in 2012 following the suppression of the 2011 uprising. During the nearly 14-year civil war, Washington applied additional restrictions, including the 2019 Caesar Act, which Trump repealed in December. The latest decision leaves Cuba, Iran, and North Korea as the only remaining states on the US terrorism sponsor list. In Ankara, the Turkish foreign ministry stated that the US move will strengthen Syrian ties with the international community.
Economic hurdles and reconstruction goals
While the administrative change clears barriers for global finance, Syria continues to face acute domestic economic difficulties. Almost 90% of the Syrian population lives in poverty, and the country contends with high inflation alongside rising food and fuel prices. Vittorio Maresca di Serracapriola, a sanctions lead analyst at Karam Shaar Advisory, explained the practical significance of the decision for the Syrian banking sector.
The momentum is great for this announcement, and it was the last main barrier to banks reconnecting.
The transitional government in Damascus is prioritizing foreign private capital to rebuild public utilities and infrastructure destroyed across more than a decade of armed conflict.
