The United States on Monday formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, where the country had been listed since 1979, following the restoration of relations between Washington and Damascus in 2025.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he authorized the formal removal after the required 45-day congressional notification period had concluded.
Washington also ended the designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a foreign terrorist organization. The group’s former leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is now Syria’s president.
Rubio said the measures represent “another historic step” by President Donald Trump toward giving the Syrian people a path to prosperity, following the administration’s decision in June 2025 to begin lifting sanctions imposed on the country.
The move marks a significant change in U.S. policy toward Syria after decades of sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
