DistantNews
Support us
US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list
🇸🇬 Singapore /Conflict & Security

US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, rescinding a decades-old designation.
  • This move is expected to foster investment and promote political and economic stability in Syria.
  • The U.S. also revoked the terrorist designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which now leads Syria after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad.

The United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a significant shift that rescinds a decades-old designation and its associated severe economic restrictions. This decision marks another step in the warming relationship between the two countries.

Today's action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability.

— Scott BessentU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the expected impact of removing Syria from the terrorism list.

Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of State revoked the designation of al-Nusra Front, now known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a global terrorist organization. The Treasury Department announced corresponding sanctions relief. HTS, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, recently overthrew long-time Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, with al-Sharaa assuming the presidency as the nation rebuilds after over 13 years of civil war.

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."

— Marco RubioU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the economic implications of the delisting.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the action "will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability." While the Treasury stressed that this does not alter its commitment to countering global terrorism, it aims to remove final major barriers for private sector investment. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the delistings give Syrians "a path to prosperity."

the new Syrian state's commitment to international peace and security.

— Assad al-ShaibaniSyrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani describing the delisting as a historic milestone.

Syrian officials welcomed the move. Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani described Washington's decision as a "historic milestone," reflecting the new Syrian state's commitment to international peace and security. Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh called it a "success for Syrian diplomacy," opening doors for integration into the global economic system, attracting investment, and supporting reconstruction efforts.

opens a major and long-awaited door to strengthening Syria's integration into the global economic and financial system, attracting investment and modern technologies, and supportin

— Mohammed BarniehSyrian Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh on the economic benefits of the delisting.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog