Syria is no longer considered a state sponsor of terrorism, the State Department and the Treasury Department announced on Monday.
The Assad regime in the Middle Eastern nation fell apart in late 2024, and Ahmed al-Sharaa is now the president.
“These actions were all taken in recognition of 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,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Monday. The group that also led to the Assad regime’s exit, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, is now no longer considered a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group.
“In the past year, the Government of Syria has taken significant steps to counter terrorism, to include formally joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November and conducting operations to disrupt the terror networks of ISIS, al-Qa’ida, Hizballah, and Iran-aligned groups,” Rubio continued, adding that it “eliminates the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria.”
Today, I formally rescinded Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. This action unlocks new potential for Syria’s economic revitalization and progress. The Trump Administration continues to advance U.S. national security to achieve peace, prosperity, and security in…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) August 24, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also announced similar measures, including taking the aforementioned group off the Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, according to a Monday press release.
“Treasury is following through on President Trump’s promise to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a statement. “Today’s action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability.”
The Syrian president expectedly praised the decision.
“I congratulate the Syrian people on the official removal of Syria's name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and I thank His Excellency President Donald Trump for this historic decision, as well as all the brothers and friends who stood with Syria and the Syrians,” he posted to X.
أهنئ الشعب السوري بإزالة اسم سورية رسميًا من قائمة الدول الراعية للإرهاب، وأشكر فخامة الرئيس دونالد ترامب على هذا القرار التاريخي، وكل الأشقاء والأصدقاء الذين وقفوا مع سورية والسوريين. pic.twitter.com/Nw6B0VROEN
— أحمد الشرع (@AH_AlSharaa) August 24, 2026
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