US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism

The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, rescinding a decades-old designation that had severely impeded investment in the country. According to Le Monde English, the governor of Syria's central bank hailed the decision as a "historic step".

The removal of the designation provides enormous sanctions relief for Syria, as reported by The Hill. The US State Department also revoked its designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a global terrorist organisation, as per South China Morning Post.

The US Treasury Department stated that the moves were "in line with President Trump's promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria", with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying the action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability. The decision was made after a 45-day congressional review period, according to Al-Monitor.

Brief written by urgent.news from Le Monde English, The Hill, South China Morning Post, Al-Monitor, Gulf News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.