US terror-list removal to boost Syria–Israel confidence-building steps

The United States has removed Syria from its terrorism list, eliminating the final legal barrier to rebuilding following the civil war. This move has intensified the pressure on Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara to strike a peace deal with Israel during high-stakes security talks. The Syrian government discussed these meetings in Amman, Jordan, to ease tensions and find a path forward.

President Trump had informed Congress of his intention to revoke the designation in July, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating that the action will help promote investment, political, and economic stability in Syria. The decision also led to the revocation of the designation of the Al Nusra Front, which had distanced itself from Al Qaeda in 2016 and rebranded as Hayat Tahrir Al Sham in 2017.

President Al Shara is now a Sunni Arab leader willing to make peace with Israel, a radical ideological shift from his radical past. The former president's removal has been seen as a political turning point, prompting consternation among international powers dealing with the repercussions. The change in Damascus has led to increased Israeli-Turkish rivalry in Syria, with Turkey now the most powerful regional backer of the post-Assad order.

The removal of the terrorism designation came after discussions in Amman regarding reviving a decades-old security deal between Syria and Israel. However, tensions remain, with Syria demanding an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory and seeking reassurance from Israel about the presence of Turkish or other forces in the country.

The talks also touched upon the issue of nine Israeli military posts established near the Golan Heights, which Syria views as a violation of a 1974 armistice line.