World News
US formally removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list
The Treasury Department also revoked the terrorist group designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, lifting key barriers to international investment.
The short version
- The United States officially removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and rescinded the terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
- Syrian leadership, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and financial authorities praised the decision as a critical step toward global economic integration.
- The move follows the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and fulfills commitments to ease sanctions and encourage investment.
- The primary focus moving forward is whether the policy change will successfully attract foreign capital and modernize Syria's banking infrastructure.
Key facts
- The US Treasury confirmed the official removal of Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list following a congressional review period.[Al Jazeera]
- The US revoked its foreign terrorist organisation designation for al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly led by current Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.[Al Jazeera]
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the action aims to foster investment and political stability in alignment with President Donald Trump's policy goals.[Al Jazeera]
- HTS ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, after which the US and EU began lifting broader economic sanctions in June 2025.[Al Jazeera]
- Syrian officials, including Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan and Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh, characterized the delisting as a historic opening to rejoin the international financial system.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- The timeline and scale of new international capital flows and modern financial technologies entering Syria remain unverified.[Al Jazeera]