US Lifts Syria’s Terrorism Designation After 47 Years

The US has removed Syria from its terrorism list, a move officials say is crucial for investment and economic reintegration.

The US has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation it had held for 47 years. This decision aims to lift what US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as the “final major barriers” for private sector investment in Syria and for its reintegration into the global economy.

In a statement, Secretary Rubio cited the Syrian government’s positive actions to distance itself from international terrorism as a basis for the decision. The Trump administration has welcomed Syria’s newly-elected president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant leader who once had a bounty on his head due to his connection with an al-Qaeda offshoot.

Under al-Sharaa, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has also been removed from the US’s global terrorist organization list. HTS, previously known as the al-Nusra Front and linked to al-Qaeda, severed its ties with the jihadist network back in 2016.

In a significant shift in the region, HTS played a pivotal role in the late 2024 rebel offensive that resulted in the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad and now dominates Syria’s transitional government.

The US aims to pull Syria into its sphere of influence as opposed to that of Russia or China. However, the situation remains precarious; Syria is still grappling with security issues, and its government lacks representation. Furthermore, it is embroiled in rising tensions with neighboring countries such as Israel and Turkey.

Rubio pointed out that this lifting of sanctions would present Syrians with “a path to prosperity.” Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani embraced the announcement as a “historic step,” expressing commitment to diminishing the impacts of past isolation and fostering an environment rooted in mutual interests and respect.

Last year, the US had already revoked HTS’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and cleared al-Sharaa from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. With Syria’s removal from the US state sponsors of terrorism list, only Cuba, North Korea, and Iran remain on that list.

This classification carries significant implications, including financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign aid, and the potential disincentivization of other nations engaging in trade with Syria. Reactions to the US’s stance are mixed; while some advocate for more engagement, others express concerns regarding security and governance in the war-torn nation.