U.S. Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List

On August 24, the United States formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation it had held since December 1979. This significant policy shift also included the lifting of the U.S. terrorist designation on Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group previously classified as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorized these changes after the mandatory 45-day congressional notification period concluded.

In conjunction with this decision, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed HTS from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. The State Department had already revoked HTS's designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in July 2025.

Rubio stated that these decisions reflect steps taken by President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government to distance Syria from international terrorism. He emphasized that the changes would eliminate "the final major barriers" to private-sector investment, thereby supporting Syria's economic recovery and its reintegration into the global economy.

Al-Sharaa welcomed the U.S. decision, expressing that Syria is moving away from a painful chapter towards development and reconstruction. He extended gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and other nations that have supported Syria.

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani described the decision as historic, asserting that the designation had been tied to the policies of the ousted Assad government and did not reflect the will of the Syrian people. Türkiye’s Ambassador to Syria, Nuh Yılmaz, remarked that this move has removed "the final obstacle" to Syria’s integration with the world, which he believes will foster stability and development in both Syria and the broader region.