US Removes Syria From State Sponsors of Terrorism List

Removal of Terrorism Designation

The United States officially removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on Monday, August 24, 2026. The move ends a designation that had been in place for nearly 47 years. According to the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, Syria is no longer subject to prohibitions under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations.

The removal took effect following a 45-day congressional review period. This review was triggered on July 8, when President Donald Trump formally notified Congress of his intention to rescind the designation.

Shift in Diplomatic Relations

The decision marks a significant shift in U.S. policy toward the post-Assad government. The Trump administration has embraced Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. President Trump and President al-Sharaa previously held a bilateral meeting on July 8, 2026, during the NATO leaders summit at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that these actions represent "another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a path to prosperity". Rubio added that the move is intended to help boost Syria's economic development.

Status of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham

Concurrent with the removal of the state designation, the U.S. State Department revoked the terrorist designation for Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The group was previously known as the al-Nusrah Front and had been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa previously led the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham armed group. The group was once designated a global terrorist organization by Washington, but has been feted by the United States since HTS overthrew Syria's previous ruler in 2024.

Economic and Investment Impact

The rescinding of the designation removes severe economic restrictions that had been imposed on the Syrian state for decades. The move is described as one of the final steps in dismantling the system of U.S. sanctions and restrictions imposed on Syria.

According to reports, the removal of the designation lifts what Damascus has described as the last major impediment to investing in the country. This action fulfills a commitment by President Trump to provide sanctions relief to the new Syrian government as Washington deepens ties with the administration.