US Formally Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List after 47 Years
The United States has formally removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list, ending a designation that had been in place since 1979 and severely restricted trade, investment, and financial transactions with the country. The historic decision, which took effect on August 24, 2026, followed a mandatory 45-day congressional review period triggered when U.S. President Donald Trump notified Congress on July 8 of his intention to rescind the designation.
In tandem with this move, the U.S. Department of State revoked the designation of the al-Nusrah Front, widely known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization, while the Treasury Department removed HTS from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons List.
The dual delisting represents a monumental shift in the Middle Eastern order, completing the international rehabilitation of Syria’s new government1 under President Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammad al-Julani), the Islamist militant leader turned statesman who led the campaign that successfully overthrew the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the removal of the SST label recognized "positive actions and further commitments" by the Syrian government to fully distance the country from international terrorism. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani hailed the move as reflecting the "transformation brought about by the Syrian people" and the new Syrian state's commitment to international peace.
To mark the milestone, President Trump posted a photograph on Truth Social showing himself alongside President al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister al-Shaibani holding the signed executive order directing the sanctions relief. The removal of the SST designation eliminates the final major barrier to private sector investment, enabling Syria's desired reintegration into the global economy2 and opening the door to international reconstruction funding.
-
An instance of Regime transitions must execute immediate foreign policy U-turns to secure economic survival. — Syria's post-Assad administration immediately distanced itself from international terrorism to secure SST delisting and unlock vital reconstruction funding. ↩︎
-
An instance of Commercial and strategic imperatives inevitably dismantle long-standing policies of diplomatic isolation. — The United States dismantled its 47-year formal policy of listing Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism to facilitate economic reconstruction and private-sector investment. ↩︎