WASHINGTON D.C August 24, 2026 — The United States on Monday formally rescinded Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, ending a classification that had stood since 1979 and clearing a major barrier to foreign investment and economic recovery in the war-torn country.
The State Department action, confirmed in a Treasury Department notice, also revoked the Specially Designated Global Terrorist designation for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former rebel group that led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and now forms the core of Syria’s new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control simultaneously removed HTS from its sanctions blacklist.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the moves recognize “the positive actions taken and further commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism.” He noted that Syria had formally joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and conducted operations against networks linked to ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Iran-aligned groups.
“Rescinding Syria’s designation as an SST and HTS’ designation as an SDGT eliminates the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria and promotes Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy,” Rubio stated.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that the decision follows through on President Donald Trump’s promise “to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness” and will help foster additional investment to promote political and economic stability.
The delisting took effect after a mandatory 45-day congressional review period that began when Trump formally notified Congress in early July of his intent to rescind the designation. No legislative block was attempted. Syria had been one of only four countries on the list; Cuba, Iran, and North Korea remain.
The designation, first imposed under Hafez al-Assad, restricted U.S. foreign assistance, defense exports, and certain financial transactions. Broader U.S. sanctions on Syria were largely lifted in 2025, but the terrorism label had continued to deter major private investment needed for reconstruction estimated by the World Bank at more than $200 billion.
The decision marks a significant further normalization of ties between Washington and Damascus under the Trump administration and al-Sharaa’s government.
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