The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that had been in place for nearly 50 years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision Monday, stating it eliminates the final major barriers to investment and economic recovery in the country. The rescission followed a mandatory 45-day congressional notification period, initiated by President Donald Trump in July.

Rubio also announced the delisting of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). These actions are described as a step to provide the Syrian people a path to prosperity, building on previous efforts over the past year to provide sanctions relief. An executive order issued by Trump in June 2025 accelerated sanctions relief by terminating the Syria Sanctions Program and the national emergency with respect to Syria.

These measures were taken in recognition of actions and commitments by the Syrian government, under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, to distance the country from international terrorism. Al-Sharaa assumed leadership after HTS rebels ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Syria had been on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list since 1979.

According to Rubio, the Syrian government has taken significant steps in the past year to counter terrorism, including joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November and conducting operations against networks including ISIS, al-Qa’ida, Hizballah, and Iran-aligned groups. The removal of Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and HTS's designation as a global terrorist is intended to promote Syria's economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani told Reuters on August 22 that lifting the designation would help restore Syria's links to the global financial system and encourage investment after years of conflict. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the action aligns with Trump's promise of sanctions relief and will help foster investment to promote political and economic stability in Syria. The governor of the Central Bank of Syria called the decision a historic step returning the country to its place within the global economic system.

Cuba, Iran, and North Korea remain on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.