US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism

ByTom Bateman, State department correspondent and Helen Livingstone.

Key points

• HTS, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, was al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until Sharaa severed ties with the jihadist network in 2016.
• Last year, the US additionally revoked the designation of HTS as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and removed Sharaa from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
• In late 2024, HTS led the rebel offensive that overthrew former president Bashar al-Assad and it dominates Sharaa's transitional administration.
• Syria's removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism – where it had been since 1979 – leaves just three remaining: Cuba, North Korea and Iran.
• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked: "Today's action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability."

In practice, the US has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years, lifting what it remarked was the "final major barriers" for private sector investment in the country and its reintegration into the global economy.

US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio remarked the move was in recognition of the Syrian government's positive actions to fully distance itself from acts of international terrorism.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has embraced Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant who once had an American bounty on his head as the leader of an al-Qaeda off-shoot.

His Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was additionally removed from the US list of global terrorist organisations.

Meanwhile, the US hopes to bring Syria into its orbit rather than that of Russia or China. But the risks remain significant, with Syria still far from secure and lacking representative administration. It is additionally at the centre of growing tensions between its neighbours Israel and Turkey.

Rubio remarked Monday's move. It had been initially flagged in July, would provide the Syrian "a path to prosperity".

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani greeted the news as a "historic step", according to state-run news agency SANA.

"We will continue working to remove the effects of isolation and create an environment based on transparency, mutual interests and respect, " he remarked.

Meanwhile, the listing carries financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign aid and defence exports and sales and can additionally penalise residents and other countries that trade with the sanctioned state.

For now, US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.