WASHINGTON - The United States formally removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on Monday, ending a designation that had been in place since December 29, 1979, one of the longest-standing entries on the list.
The change took effect after a 45-day congressional review period expired without lawmakers blocking the move. President Donald Trump notified Congress of his intent to rescind the designation on July 8, 2026. The State Department simultaneously revoked its designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a global terrorist organization. HTS, led by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024, ending a civil war that began in 2011.
Diplomatic and Economic Implications
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the actions were taken "in recognition of the positive actions taken and further commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the delisting would "help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability," adding that the move was in line with Trump's promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria.
Congress did not block the rescission during the review window, with lawmakers from both parties, including Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, having voiced support.
Al-Sharaa called the decision "historic" and said it would help Syria recover after years of civil war.
Remaining Sanctions and Global Context
The State Sponsors of Terrorism removal is distinct from a separate, broader sanctions rollback that began under a June 2025 executive order directing the Treasury, State and Commerce departments to ease trade and financial restrictions on Syria. Even with the delisting, some US restrictions remain in place, including sanctions targeting individuals linked to the former Assad government, an arms embargo and controls on the export of dual-use goods, according to legal analysts tracking the sanctions rollback. The European Union and United Kingdom have maintained similar limited restrictions after easing their own sanctions on Syria.
With Syria's removal, only three countries remain on the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism: Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Syria had spent 47 years on the list.
The delisting removes a major legal obstacle to American investment, banking access and participation in Syria's reconstruction after more than a decade of war, though the extent of any near-term economic impact remains to be seen.
Further reading and useful links
Reader questions
Frequently asked questions
Why did the US remove Syria from the terrorism-sponsor list?
The US cited positive actions and commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to distance the country from international terrorism, effectively paving the way for economic stability.
Are all US sanctions on Syria lifted?
No. While broad trade and financial restrictions have been eased, some US restrictions remain in place, including an arms embargo, controls on dual-use goods, and targeted sanctions against individuals linked to the former Assad government.
Which countries are still on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list?
Following the removal of Syria, only three countries remain on the US list: Cuba, Iran, and North Korea.
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