United States removes Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list
The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, rescinding a decades-old designation that carried significant economic restrictions. This action, announced by the US Department of State, also included the revocation of al-Nusra Front, now known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham HTS, as a global terrorist organization, with corresponding sanctions relief from the Treasury Department. Rebels led by HTS overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, with Ahmed al-Sharaa becoming president as Syria rebuilds after more than 13 years of civil war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that this move will foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability, aligning with President Donald Trump’s promise for sanctions relief. The Treasury Department emphasized that this does not change its stance on countering global terrorism. HTS, formerly Al-Qaeda's branch in Syria, broke ties with the jihadist group in 2016. The US had indicated its intent to delist Syria in July, seen as a vote of confidence in Sharaa. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the delistings provide Syrians with "a path to prosperity" by eliminating major barriers for private sector investment and promoting economic recovery. Syrian officials, including Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani and Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh, hailed the delisting as a historic milestone and a success for Syrian diplomacy, anticipating increased integration into the global
