WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, rescinding a decades-old designation that came with severe economic restrictions and marking another step in warming ties between the countries.
The US Department of State also revoked its designation of Al-Nusra Front — latterly known as Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) — as a global terrorist organization. The Treasury Department announced corresponding sanctions relief.
Rebels led by HTS overthrew long-time Syrian ruler Bashar Assad in December 2024, with the group’s leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa taking over as president as the country rebuilds after more than 13 years of civil war.
“Today’s action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
Treasury said the moves were “in line with President (Donald) Trump’s promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria.”
But the agency stressed that its removal of restrictions on Syria “does not change Treasury’s posture with regards to countering global terrorism and our commitment to hold bad actors in Syria accountable.”
Turkiye on Tuesday said it welcomed the US decision, saying the move lifted “one of the biggest obstacles” to Syria’s reconstruction and economic development.
“We call upon the international community to unite its efforts toward the goal of a prosperous Syria and to fulfil its responsibilities to put an end to aggressive actions that jeopardize this vision,” Turkiye’s foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to Israeli attacks on Syria.
Syria hails removal from US list of state terror sponsors
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa said on Tuesday that his country had shaken off a dark stain after the US removed it from the state sponsors of terror list the day prior.
“Today, Syria shakes off a dark stain and tears away a painful chapter of its past to embark on a path of development, reconstruction and rebuilding,” Sharaa said in a speech.
Senior Syrian officials hailed their country’s removal from Washington’s list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday, characterizing it as a major opportunity.
Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al-Shaibani described Washington’s move to de-list the country as a “historic milestone” and said it reflected “the new Syrian state’s commitment to international peace and security.”
“Under the guidance of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, we will continue our efforts to overcome the legacy of isolation and foster an environment based on transparency, mutual interests and respect,” he added on X.
He said the designation was “associated with the policies and practices of the former regime” and “was never the choice of the Syrian people.”
Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh described Washington’s move as a “success for Syrian diplomacy,” according to the official news agency SANA.
It “opens a major and long-awaited door to strengthening Syria’s integration into the global economic and financial system, attracting investment and modern technologies, and supporting development opportunities.”
Central bank chief Safwat Raslan lauded what he called “a historic step that restores the country to its natural place in the global economic system.”
He added his bank was “working to build a modern and reliable financial system capable of evolving with developments and taking advantage of all opportunities.”
Warming ties
HTS was earlier known as Al-Nusra Front and was formerly the branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria. It broke ties with the jihadist group in 2016.
The United States had initially announced in July its intent to delist Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, a move seen as a vote of confidence in Sharaa.
Trump met on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Turkiye with the Syrian president, a former jihadist who has sought to recast himself as a unifying figure after the toppling of the Assad family, which ruled with an iron fist for a half-century.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday’s delistings gave Syrians “a path to prosperity.”
The action “eliminates the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria and promotes Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy,” he said in a statement.
Top officials in Damascus hailed the delisting as a major opportunity for the country, still economically devastated after more than a decade of war that rights groups say killed more than half a million people.
Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al-Shaibani described Washington’s delisting as a “historic milestone” and said it reflected “the new Syrian state’s commitment to international peace and security.”
Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh described the move as a “success for Syrian diplomacy,” according to the official news agency SANA.
It “opens a major and long-awaited door to strengthening Syria’s integration into the global economic and financial system, attracting investment and modern technologies, and supporting development opportunities.”
Central bank chief Safwat Raslan lauded the development, adding that his institution was “working to build a modern and reliable financial system capable of evolving with developments and taking advantage of all opportunities.”
