US removes Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list
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The United States removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list on Tuesday, ending a designation in place since 1979. President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Syria 'shakes off a dark stain' and embarks on reconstruction. The removal leaves Cuba, Iran and North Korea as the only countries on the list.
Key Facts
- The US removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list on Tuesday, ending a designation in place since 1979.
- President Donald Trump announced the planned removal in July, and it took effect after a 45-day congressional review.
- Cuba, Iran and North Korea are the only countries remaining on the US terrorism blacklist.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision followed 'formal assurances' from President Ahmed al-Sharaa that Syria will not support international terrorism.
The Removal
The US removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list on Tuesday, ending a designation in place since 1979. President Donald Trump had announced the planned removal in July, and it took effect following a 45-day congressional review. The designation had triggered restrictions on foreign assistance, defence exports, certain financial transactions and the transfer of some dual-use goods. The removal leaves Cuba, Iran and North Korea as the only countries currently on the US terrorism blacklist.
Syria's Response
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in a speech on Tuesday that 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'. Al-Sharaa previously led the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate, before breaking ties in 2016. Washington has praised cooperation between al-Sharaa's government and the US against the ISIL (ISIS) armed group, which seized control of swaths of Syrian territory between 2013 and 2019.
Economic Impact
The terrorism-sponsor designation had remained a major obstacle for potential investors in Syria even after Washington dismantled its broader Syria sanctions programme in 2025. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said lifting the designation will 'unlock international trade and investment' and give Syria a chance to rebuild. Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East Politics at George Washington University, told Al Jazeera that being removed from the list brings 'many benefits'.
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US removes Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list
