US Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List
The US has removed Syria from the state sponsors of terrorism list after 47 years, lifting investment barriers and HTS designations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The US removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list after 47 years.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited Syria's positive actions to distance from terrorism.
- Militant group HTS and leader Ahmed al-Sharaa were removed from terror blacklists.
- Only Cuba, North Korea, and Iran remain designated as state sponsors of terrorism.
The United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after a span of 47 years, lifting what officials described as the final major barriers preventing private sector investment and reintegrating the nation into the global economy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the decision serves as a formal recognition of the Syrian government's proactive steps to completely distance itself from acts of international terrorism.
The Trump administration has actively engaged with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant leader who previously carried a US bounty. His Islamist faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—formerly known as the al-Nusra Front before severing ties with al-Qaeda in 2016—was also removed from the US global terrorist organizations registry.
In late 2024, HTS spearheaded the rebel offensive that successfully ousted long-time former president Bashar al-Assad, and the group currently dominates Sharaa's transitional administration.
This policy shift highlights Washington's strategic intent to pull Syria into the Western sphere of influence rather than allowing it to lean toward Russia or China. Nevertheless, severe security risks and regional friction involving Israel and Turkey continue to pose significant diplomatic challenges.
"We will continue working to remove the effects of isolation and create an environment based on transparency, mutual interests and respect,"
Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, Syrian Foreign Minister
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani welcomed the announcement via the state-run SANA news agency, describing the development as a historic milestone. With Syria's departure from the 1979 designation list, the roster of state sponsors of terrorism is now narrowed down to just three remaining nations: Cuba, North Korea, and Iran.
Source: BBC World
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