US Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List after 47 Years

Key facts

• The United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the removal, citing Syria's positive actions to distance itself from international terrorism.
• The move lifts the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria and its reintegration into the global economy.
• The US also removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of global terrorist organizations.
• HTS, formerly al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, led the rebel offensive that overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
• Syria had been on the list since 1979; the remaining countries on the list are Cuba, North Korea, and Iran.
• The listing previously carried financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign aid and defence exports, and penalties for trading with Syria.