US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism
The Trump administration has embraced Syria's new president, former al-Qaeda militant Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a 47-year designation. This decision comes after the Syrian government demonstrated positive actions to distance itself from terrorism, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The move aims to remove the final major barriers for private sector investment and Syria's reintegration into the global economy.
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent emphasized that the action would foster additional investment to promote political and economic stability in the country. Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant linked to al-Qaeda, was embraced by the Trump administration and is now the leader of an al-Qaeda offshoot, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
HTS, previously designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, was removed from the US list of global terrorist organizations in late 2024. The Syrian Foreign Minister welcomed the news as a historic step, vowing to work towards transparency, mutual interests, and respect. With Syria's removal from the US list, only Cuba, North Korea, and Iran remain on the list, each facing financial sanctions, restrictions on foreign aid and defence exports, and penalties for trade with the sanctioned state.
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