US Removes Syria From Terror List After 45-Day Review, Ending 47 Years of Isolation
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 25
US Removes Syria From Terror List After 45-Day Review, Ending 47 Years of Isolation
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 25
Summary
Monday’s move took effect after a 45-day congressional review, formally lifting Syria from the US “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list and revoking al-Nusrah Front’s terrorist designation.
Marco Rubio said Washington acted after Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government took steps to distance Syria from international terrorism, while US officials also see the shift as a way to loosen Iran and Russia’s influence.
The 1979 designation had blocked US aid, defence exports, dual-use sales and many financial transactions, and remained a major deterrent for banks and investors even after broader US sanctions were dismantled.
Ahmed al-Sharaa called the decision historic, and Syrian economic officials said it should speed reconstruction, attract investment and help reintegrate the country into the global financial system.
Only Cuba, Iran and North Korea now remain on the US terrorism list, underscoring Syria’s transition from decades of pariah status toward wider international legitimacy.
With Syria off the terror list, who will truly control the $216 billion reconstruction windfall amidst lingering corruption risks?
Despite historic sanctions relief, what hidden legal traps await global banks rushing to finance Syria's economic revival?
Will the controversial delisting of HTS spark a new wave of geopolitical instability in the Middle East?
The 2026 US Delisting of Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism: Pathways to Economic Recovery and Regional Transformation
Overview
On August 24, 2026, the United States officially removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list, following a diplomatic process that began with a meeting between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump. After Trump’s formal notification to Congress and a 45-day review, the delisting triggered the revocation of terrorist designations for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which had led the offensive that toppled Assad’s regime. This historic move dismantled major barriers to investment and banking, allowing American financial institutions to reconnect with Syrian banks and opening the door for Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the global community.