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

The United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, erasing the last legal barrier to rebuilding Syria after the civil war. However, this move has put pressure on President Ahmad Al Shara to negotiate a peace deal with Israel. The decision was made after US President Donald Trump informed Congress of his intention to rescind the designation in July. The US is providing assistance to help promote political and economic stability in Syria.

Syrian officials have met with Israeli representatives in Amman, Jordan, as part of efforts to defuse tensions and chart a way forward. During these meetings, Syria demanded the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Syrian territory and reassurance about the presence of Turkish or other forces in Syria. Additionally, discussions focused on the disputed governorate of Sweida and the Israeli-established military posts near the Golan Heights, which breach the 1974 armistice line.

To boost the confidence-building process, the removal of the terrorism designation came a day after Israeli and Syrian officials discussed reviving a decades-old security deal. However, this interim arrangement was complicated by renewed Israeli attacks in Syria, as well as Turkey's growing influence in the region. The US remains committed to facilitating a peace deal between Syria and Israel, with Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria and Iraq, tasked with forging a formal peace agreement.