US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list

On Monday, the United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, lifting a decades-old designation that imposed severe economic restrictions. This action follows the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime by rebels led by Hay at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in December 2024. HTS, previously known as al-Nusra Front, is a former Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria that broke ties with the group in 2016.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the delisting will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability, in line with President Donald Trump's promise to deliver sanctions relief to the country. However, the agency emphasized that this does not change its stance on countering global terrorism or holding accountable those deemed bad actors in Syria.

The delisting comes as HTS seeks to recast itself as a unifying figure and Bashar al-Assad's former jihadist allies seek to rebuild the country after a civil war that killed over half a million people. Syrian officials hailed the delisting as a major opportunity for the country to regain international financial integration and attract investment.