Trump Removes Syria's Terrorism Label—Map of Countries Still on List
With Syria's removal, the last three nations designated by the U.S. as state sponsors of terrorism are Iran, Cuba and North Korea.
The United States has taken Syria off its list of state sponsors of terrorism, following a review ordered in the wake of the ousting of the country's previous government. This development signals improving relations between Washington and Damascus, since the transfer of power to President Ahmad al-Sharaa in December 2024.
The removal of Syria is seen as the final step in a series of actions taken by the U.S., including the lifting of sanctions, following the administration of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's efforts to combat international terrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted these steps, crediting al-Sharaa's government with significant progress towards distancing itself from acts of terror.
If Syria is removed from the list, it would be the last country remaining on it since its initial inclusion in 1979, which also featured Libya, Iraq, and South Yemen. Libya was eliminated in 2006, Iraq in 1982, and South Yemen upon its unification in 1990. Sudan, added in 1993, was taken off the list in 2020 after establishing ties with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords.
Currently, three nations remain on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism: Iran, Cuba, and North Korea. Iran was listed in 1984, five years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, resulting in a 444-day hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Iran's status as the longest-standing designation is attributed to its support for various U.S.-listed terror organizations, such as Hezbollah and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
The decision to remove Syria comes amidst ongoing tensions with Iran, a conflict that began during the 2018 withdrawal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal. North Korea, designated as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1988, was lifted from the list in 2008 following nuclear talks and the dismantling of its nuclear program. However, Trump reinstated North Korea in 2017 following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, highlighting the fluid nature of these designations amidst geopolitical shifts.
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- Trump removes Syria from 'terrorism list' middleeasteye.net
