US removes Syria from terrorism list

On August 24, 2026, the United States officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that had been in place since 1979. The move, which took effect after a 45-day congressional review, was announced by the U.S. Treasury and State Departments. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the action recognized Syria's efforts to distance itself from international terrorism under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The U.S. also revoked the terrorist designation of Al-Nusra Front, also known as Hay at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and the Treasury's United States — Office of Foreign Assets Control removed HTS from its blacklist. This sanctions relief is expected to facilitate investment and Syria's reintegration into the global financial system. The removal follows the termination of comprehensive U.S. sanctions in July 2025 and months of negotiations, including reported Syrian commitments to reduce Russian oil imports. Syria's central bank governor called it a historic step, and the government hopes it will attract billions in reconstruction investment. Cuba, Iran, and North Korea remain on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.