US Removes Syria From Terrorism List After Nearly 50 Years

The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, marking a major shift in Washington’s policy towards Damascus and ending a designation that had been in place since 1979.

The decision, announced on Monday, August 24, 2026, comes after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government and the emergence of a new Syrian administration under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The move is expected to remove a significant obstacle to international investment and Syria’s reintegration into the global financial system.

According to the US authorities, the decision followed Syria’s stated commitment to distancing itself from international terrorism. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited the new government’s efforts in that direction as a basis for the policy change.

The development is also expected to create greater opportunities for foreign investment and contribute to Syria’s economic reconstruction after years of war and international isolation.

Alongside the removal of Syria from the terrorism list, Washington also lifted the designation of the Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a global terrorist organisation. HTS played a central role in the campaign that eventually led to the fall of Assad in December 2024.

The latest decision leaves Cuba, Iran and North Korea as the only countries remaining on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list.

The move represents another significant step in the United States’ efforts to deepen engagement with Syria’s new leadership. Washington had previously taken measures to ease economic restrictions on the country and support efforts to rebuild its economy following the end of Assad’s rule.

However, the policy shift remains controversial, with critics continuing to raise concerns about President al-Sharaa’s past links to jihadist organisations and questions surrounding the protection of Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities.

Despite those concerns, the US decision is being viewed as a potentially transformative development for Syria, particularly as the country seeks to attract foreign capital, rebuild damaged infrastructure and restore its links with international financial institutions.

The latest action signals a dramatic reversal in Washington’s decades-long approach to Damascus and could usher in a new phase of economic and diplomatic relations between Syria and the United States.