Syria ‘shakes off’ past with removal from US ‘terror list’, says al-Sharaa

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hailed the United States' removal of his country from the "state sponsors of terrorism" list, a major sanctions relief step for a country aiming to boost post-war reconstruction.

Key points

• Syrian Airlines will additionally commence operating regular direct flights from Damascus to Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, and Austria's capital, Vienna, on September 21, Syria's civil aviation authority confirmed.
• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked in an official note that Monday's move "will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability".
• Monday's move offered Syria "a path to prosperity", according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• Al-Sharaa expressed his "many thanks to the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and to all the friendly and supportive nations that stood by us".
• Jordan's Foreign Ministry additionally welcomed the US decision, calling it "an important step" towards supporting Syria's reconstruction, recovery and development.

"Today, Syria shakes off a dark stain and tears away a painful chapter of its past to embark on a path of development, reconstruction and rebuilding, " al-Sharaa remarked in a speech.

Washington's decision on Monday rescinded a decades-old designation that came with severe economic restrictions, marking another step in warming ties between the countries after the 2024 ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.

But the Treasury stressed that its removal of restrictions on Syria "does not change Treasury's posture with regards to countering global terrorism and our commitment to hold bad actors in Syria accountable".

For context, the US listed Syria as a "state sponsor of terrorism" in 1979, accusing the country, then under the rule of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, of supporting Palestinian fighter groups and other armed movements in neighbouring Lebanon.

Monday's move offered Syria "a path to prosperity", according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The action "eliminates the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria and promotes Syria's economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy, " he remarked in an official note. The World Bank estimates post-war reconstruction to cost more than $216bn.

Meanwhile, a number of countries welcomed the US move. Turkiye, a key backer of Syria's new authorities, remarked the decision will "lend momentum to efforts to strengthen Syria's ties with the international community and to establish lasting security and stability in the country".

"At this stage, we call on the international community to unite its efforts toward the goal of a prosperous Syria and to fulfill its responsibilities to bring an end to aggressive actions that jeopardize this vision, " Ankara remarked.

Qatar and Jordan additionally welcomed the US decision, saying the move would backing stability and recovery efforts in the country.

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked in an official note that the step "supports the path of a political settlement in line with international legitimacy resolutions and the aspirations of the Syrian people".

Welcoming the move, Saudi Arabia wished Syria "further security, stability, and prosperity, and continued progress in its reconstruction and development efforts" in a way that would benefit the "aspirations of its people".

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha remarked in a post on X that Ukraine had consistently backed Syria's new administration and residents since the ouster of the Assad regime in their efforts to achieve recovery, peace and development.

In another sign of Syria's growing international reintegration, Damascus additionally moved to expand its diplomatic outreach on Monday by launching an English-language social media account for its foreign media department.

Omar al-Hosary, head of Syria's General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, informed the SANA news agency that the new routes are part of continuing efforts to expand the national carrier's international network and strengthen air links between Syria and Europe.

Taken together, the developments around syria 'shakes off' past with removal from US 'terror list', says al point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.