The United States officially removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list on August 24, 2026, lifting a 47-year designation that blocked international investment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also delisted the Islamist faction Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham as a global terrorist organization, clearing the path for post-Assad reconstruction.
Ending Four Decades of Isolation under the Terrorism List
The United States formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, drawing the curtain on a designation that had been in place for 47 years. The US has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years, lifting what it said was the final major barriers
for private sector investment in the country and its reintegration into the global economy. On August 24, the United States removed Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, revoking a long-standing designation that entailed strict economic restrictions, as reported by Channel NewsAsia. The designation as a state sponsor of terrorism carries restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance, defense exports and certain financial transactions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the formal rescission on August 24, 2026, following the conclusion of a mandatory 45-day congressional review period. The process began when Trump informed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on July 8 during the NATO summit in Ankara of his decision to cancel Syria’s designation, with Congress to conduct a 45-day review to complete the decision and make it final. Jihad Makdissi, an adviser on US affairs at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, said the end of the review completed the congressional stage but did not automatically remove Syria’s designation, and that Washington could now move to a final executive step. Makdissi said the final step requires a formal decision by the U.S. secretary of state and publication in the Federal Register, while the Syrian Arab News Agency said Trump handed Ahmad al-Sharaa a formal letter informing him that Congress had been notified of the decision.
“Today, I authorized the formal rescission of Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), following the conclusion of the mandatory 45-day Congressional notification period. I have also delisted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).”
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
Delisting Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Rebuilding Ties
Alongside the state-level delisting, the State Department removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of specially designated global terrorist organizations. The US State Department also revoked the designation of the al-Nusra Front, later known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a global terrorist organization. The Trump administration has embraced Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant who once had an American bounty on his head as the leader of an al-Qaeda off-shoot. His Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was also removed from the US list of global terrorist organisations. HTS, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, was al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria until Sharaa severed ties with the jihadist network in 2016. In late 2024, HTS led the rebel offensive that overthrew former president Bashar al-Assad.
US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio said the move was in recognition of the Syrian government’s positive actions to fully distance itself from acts of international terrorism. The policy shift fulfills President Donald Trump’s promise to ease sanctions against Syria.
Sanctions Relief and Financial Reintegration
The lifting of the state sponsor designation eliminates strict economic restrictions. The US Treasury Department announced a corresponding easing of sanctions.
“Today’s action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability.”
Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the decision should facilitate additional investment in Syria and the country’s political and economic stability. The Treasury Department said the measures were “in line with President (Donald) Trump’s promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria.”
Cautious Diplomatic Horizons and Regional Risks
While Washington has moved toward normalizing relations and encouraging private sector investment, the department stressed that easing restrictions on Syria does not change its approach to countering global terrorism or its intention to hold bad actors in the country accountable. The Treasury Department stressed that lifting the restrictions would not weaken its efforts to combat international terrorism or its commitment to hold individuals and groups accountable.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani called Washington’s decision a historic milestone
and said it reflects the new Syrian state’s commitment to international peace and security. Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh, according to the state agency SANA, described it as a success of Syrian diplomacy and an opportunity to attract investment and modern technologies and strengthen the country’s integration into the global financial system.
