The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation that had remained in place for 47 years and removing what Washington described as a major obstacle to investment and Syria’s reintegration into the global economy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision recognised what he described as positive steps by Syria’s new government to distance itself from international terrorism. The move is another major sign of the Trump administration’s growing engagement with Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Sharaa, a former militant, once had a US bounty placed on his head because of his leadership of an al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria. His Islamist organisation, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was also previously designated by the US as a terrorist organisation. HTS, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, served as al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria until Sharaa broke away from the jihadist network in 2016.
In late 2024, HTS led the rebel offensive that overthrew longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The group subsequently became the dominant force within Syria’s transitional government. Washington now hopes to pull Syria closer to the US and its allies rather than allowing Russia or China to expand their influence in the country. But major challenges remain.
Syria is still struggling with insecurity and political instability, while questions remain over whether the transitional administration can establish a genuinely representative government. The country is also caught amid growing tensions involving neighbouring Israel and Turkey.
Rubio said the decision, which the administration had first indicated in July, would provide Syria with “a path to prosperity”. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent similarly said the move would help encourage investment in Syria and promote political and economic stability.
A Welcomed Development
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani welcomed the decision as a “historic step”, according to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency. He said Syria would continue working to end the effects of its international isolation and establish an environment based on transparency, mutual interests and respect.
The latest decision follows other steps taken by Washington to normalise relations with Syria’s new leadership. Last year, the US revoked HTS’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. Also removing Sharaa from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
Syria’s removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list means that only three countries remain on it: Cuba, North Korea and Iran. The designation carries significant economic consequences, including financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign aid and limitations on defence exports and sales. It can also expose individuals and other countries that conduct certain forms of business with a designated state to penalties.
For Syria, the removal could therefore open the door to greater foreign investment and international economic engagement after years of isolation.
READ ALSO: https://alo360.net/burnham-support-ukraine-russian-threats/
