US Removes Syria From State Sponsors of Terrorism List After Nearly Five Decades
The United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation that had been in place since 1979 as the Trump administration continues rebuilding relations with Damascus following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The State Department announced the historic change Monday after completing a congressionally required review process. The decision eliminates one of the most significant remaining obstacles preventing Syria from reconnecting with international banks, businesses and investors.
Syria had spent nearly 47 years on the terrorism list, longer than any other country still carrying the designation. Washington originally placed Syria on the list because of the former Assad government’s support for terrorist organizations and militant groups operating throughout the Middle East.
The situation changed dramatically after Assad was overthrown in December 2024. Ahmed al-Sharaa subsequently emerged as Syria’s president and began attempting to rebuild relations with the United States and other Western governments after years of international isolation.
President Trump has increasingly embraced engagement with Syria’s new government. He met with al-Sharaa during a NATO summit in Turkey last month, while administration officials have praised Damascus for taking steps to distance the country from international terrorism and cooperate with Washington against ISIS.
The decision is particularly significant because of al-Sharaa’s own controversial history. Before becoming president, he led the Nusrah Front, which was once affiliated with al-Qaeda and later became part of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Washington has now also revoked the Nusrah Front’s designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization.
Trump administration officials argue that Syria’s new leadership should be judged by its actions since Assad’s overthrow. Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited the government with making progress toward separating Syria from terrorist organizations, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the policy change would encourage economic and political stability.
Removing Syria from the terrorism list could have enormous economic consequences. Even after the United States lifted broader sanctions in 2025, the terrorism designation continued creating major legal and compliance risks for international banks and companies interested in doing business inside Syria.
Those restrictions made reconstruction particularly difficult after nearly 14 years of devastating civil war. With the designation removed, international companies and financial institutions will have considerably greater freedom to consider investments and transactions involving Syria.
Major financial companies are already examining opportunities in the country. Bank of America and Mastercard are among the institutions exploring potential involvement, with Mastercard working on infrastructure that could reconnect Syrians with international card-payment networks.
Syrian officials celebrated Washington’s decision as a diplomatic breakthrough. Finance Minister Muhammad Yasser Bernia described the removal as an important step toward integrating Syria into the international economy and attracting the investment necessary to rebuild the country.
The policy shift also reflects the broader geopolitical realignment taking place in Damascus. As part of its improving relationship with Washington, Syria has agreed to substantially reduce its imports of Russian oil, another indication that the post-Assad government is attempting to reposition itself internationally.
With Syria removed, only Cuba, Iran and North Korea remain on the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism. For the Trump administration, the decision represents one of the most dramatic changes yet in America’s relationship with post-Assad Syria — replacing decades of isolation with an effort to turn Damascus into a more cooperative regional partner.