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U.S. removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list

After a 45-day congressional review, Washington formally rescinded Syria’s SST designation and revoked HTS’s terrorist listing, a step Damascus calls the last big barrier to reconstruction money.

The United States on Monday removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list after a 45-day congressional review that began when President Trump notified Congress on July 8. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the step, and the parallel revocation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s global terrorist designation, recognized Damascus’s commitments to distance itself from international terrorism and cleared the last major barriers to private investment. Syria had been listed since 1979; HTS-led rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Treasury, Syrian officials, and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack framed the move as opening reconstruction finance. Cuba, Iran, and North Korea remain on the list.

Shared facts

The US State Department has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The action required Congress to conduct a 45-day review to finalise the decision.

Washington said the move lifts the final major barriers to private investment and Syria's reintegration into the global economy.

The SST designation was regarded as a major obstacle to Syria's economic recovery after Assad fell.

Rubio said the actions recognized Syria's steps and commitments to distance itself from international terrorism.

Trump formally notified Congress on July 8 of his intention to rescind the designation.

The US also revoked the designation of Al Nusra Front.

Al-Sharaa removed Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024.

He has forged a strong relationship with Trump, who has pushed for Syria's reintegration into the global economy.

Al-Sharaa said Syria was tearing away a painful past to pursue development and reconstruction.

Shibani said there is no longer any obstacle to investment, business, and rebuilding economic life in Syria.

Syria was placed on the US blacklist in 1979.

Bessent said the action will help foster additional investment to promote political and economic stability.

The group formally severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016.

Rubio said Monday's move, first flagged in July, would give Syrians a path to prosperity.

The blacklist also includes Iran, Cuba, and North Korea.

The listing carries financial sanctions and restrictions on U.S. foreign aid and defense exports.

Washington accused Hafez al-Assad's government of supporting armed groups.

The listing had remained a major deterrent for banks and investors after broader U.S. sanctions were dismantled.

The World Bank estimates Syria's reconstruction will cost $216 billion.

Al-Sharaa was the leader of HTS.

The designation has been a point of friction for would-be investors, along with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism concerns.

Shibani called the delisting a historic event and the fruit of transformation made by Syrians.

Bessent said the move is in line with Trump's promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria.

Trump posted a Truth Social photo of al-Sharaa and Shibani holding his signed June 2025 sanctions-relief executive order.

Barrack said the designation had separated Syrians from the investment needed to rebuild, and that another wall had come down.

Syria's central bank governor said lifting the designation is a historic step returning Syria to the global economic system.

Shibani said Syria will keep working to end isolation and prepare an environment based on transparency, mutual interests, and respect.

Disputed facts

None yet.

Reuters

US removes Syria from terrorism sponsor list, lifting major investment obstacle

Feras Dalatey

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Trump shook hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at a NATO-sidelines meeting in Ankara on July 8, 2026.

The removal was posted on the U.S. Treasury's website.

Trump's administration terminated comprehensive U.S. sanctions on Syria in July 2025.

Treasury has said U.S. banks may serve Syria and form correspondent relationships if sanctioned parties are not involved.

Washington kept targeted sanctions on Assad associates, rights abusers, traffickers, Islamic State, al-Qaeda affiliates, and Iranian proxies.

In a letter seen by Reuters, Trump told al-Sharaa he had promised to remove all barriers preventing Syria from rebuilding.

Syria's government is seeking billions of dollars in investment to rebuild after nearly 14 years of war.

Sources told Reuters Damascus agreed to drastically reduce Russian oil imports during talks over lifting the designation.

Finance Minister Barnieh held talks with Bank of America executives on cooperation and financial reintegration.

Mastercard said in May it was working with QNB Group and Syria's central bank on international card-payment infrastructure.

The delisting followed months of negotiations between Damascus and Washington over economic and foreign policy.

Washington has praised Sharaa's government's cooperation against Islamic State.

Washington said easing restrictions is meant to give Syria a chance to stabilize, attract investment, and rebuild.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

The Hill

US formally removes Syria's designation as State Sponsor of Terrorism

Laura Kelly

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Removing the SST designation provides sanctions relief and a path for Damascus to rejoin the international financial system.

Syria faces huge reconstruction challenges after more than a decade of civil war.

The Hill reported overwhelming bipartisan support for Trump's Syria sanctions relief, despite reservations about al-Sharaa's past.

Envoy Tom Barrack described removing the SST designation as ushering in a new era of U.S.-Syrian relations.

Since taking over in December 2024, al-Sharaa has renounced former al-Qaeda and Islamic State ties and used Turkey and Saudi relationships to appeal to Trump.

Some lawmakers have raised concerns about sectarian violence, Syrian ties with Russia, and fair representation in the new government.

Opinion

The Hill described al-Sharaa as a former terrorist turned statesman.

The Hill called the delisting an extraordinary milestone for Ahmad al-Sharaa's government.

Barrack said capital can replace conflict and commerce can triumph over chaos.

Al Jazeera

US removes Syria from 'state sponsor of terrorism' list

Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Al-Sharaa hailed the decision as historic and said it would help recovery after 14 years of civil war.

Al-Sharaa welcomed the decision in a statement on X.

HTS was once al-Qaeda's official branch in Syria.

Syria's Foreign Ministry said the U.S. action opens a new chapter in international relations with Syria.

Al-Sharaa has met Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron as part of a Western charm offensive.

Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh called the move a major historic success for Syrian diplomacy.

Barnieh said the delisting opens a door to financial integration, investment, technology, and development.

Raslan said the central bank is working to build a modern and reliable financial system.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack also hailed the move.

Opinion

Halkett said Washington also aims to pull Syria away from Iran and Russia and end its pariah status.

Kimberly Halkett said the U.S. move ends five decades of Syria's isolation.

Halkett said the move opens a path to international legitimacy and commercial investment, including defense sales.

Al Jazeera said the HTS delisting is a further vote of confidence in al-Sharaa.

Barrack called the delisting a decisive step from isolation to partnership in the fight against terrorism.

Fox News

Syria off US terror blacklist after nearly 50 years as Trump admin clears investment hurdle

Emma Bussey

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Trump initiated the countdown in July.

Trump confirmed to Congress that Syria's government had ceased supporting international terrorism.

Trump's June 2025 order terminated the Syria sanctions program and the national emergency with respect to Syria.

Rubio said Syria joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November and has disrupted ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Iran-aligned networks.

Rubio said Washington had taken unprecedented steps over the past year to provide Syria sanctions relief.

Shibani said lifting the designation would help restore Syria's links to the global financial system after nearly 14 years of war.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

BBC News

US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism

Tom Bateman and Helen Livingstone

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Al-Sharaa once had a U.S. bounty on his head as leader of an al-Qaeda offshoot.

HTS dominates Sharaa's transitional administration.

Syria is at the center of growing tensions between neighbors Israel and Turkey.

Last year the US revoked HTS's FTO designation and removed Sharaa from its SDGT list.

The listing can also penalize people and other countries that trade with the sanctioned state.

Opinion

The BBC said the US hopes to bring Syria into its orbit rather than Russia's or China's.

The BBC said Syria is still far from secure and lacks representative government.

The National

US removes Syria from terrorism sponsor list after 47 years

Thomas Watkins

24 Aug 2026

Facts

The delisting came after Trump notified Congress in July of his intent to rescind Syria's designation.

Bessent said Treasury is following through on Trump's promise to give Syrians a chance at greatness.

Rubio said that in the past year Syria has taken significant steps to counter terrorism.

It later rebranded and merged into Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in 2017.

Washington last year lifted sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act.

In May the State Department released an investor handbook and guides for US companies entering Syria.

Opinion

No opinion marked.