US removes Syria from terrorism sponsor list after 47 years, delists HTS group

The United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Aug. 24, ending a 47-year designation that had imposed severe economic restrictions on Damascus. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, stating it followed the conclusion of a mandatory 45-day congressional notification period. Rubio also delisted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, calling the actions “another historic step” to provide Syrians with a path to prosperity.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa celebrated the move in a speech, declaring that Syria had “shaken off a dark stain” and would now focus on development and reconstruction. He thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and supportive nations for the decision, which Syrian state media widely covered. The U.S. Embassy in Syria said the change would foster a new relationship based on shared interests and mutual security.

The delisting coincides with broader diplomatic shifts. On Aug. 23, Syria, the U.S., and Israel held talks in Jordan to reduce tensions after Israeli strikes in Syria. On Aug. 25, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) met with Syrian officials in Damascus to finalize the integration of their security forces. Later the same day, SDF leader Maslum Abdi announced the dissolution of the Kurdish-led coalition as an independent force, citing its full integration into Syrian state institutions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the removal of restrictions would encourage investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability, though he emphasized that Treasury’s counterterrorism posture remained unchanged. The World Bank estimates Syria’s post-war reconstruction costs exceed $216 billion. Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the U.S. decision, stating it would eliminate obstacles to Syria’s economic recovery and strengthen regional stability.

The U.S. had first designated Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979 under Hafez al-Assad’s rule. The Trump administration had sought to end sanctions on Syria for over a year, with Trump signing an executive order to terminate them in June 2025. U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack, who serves as envoy to Syria and Iraq, praised the rescission, writing that “capital can replace conflict, enterprise can replace isolation.”

The U.S. State Department separately announced an $8 million reward for information on Sanaullah Ghafari, leader of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), and a $10 million reward for Obaidullah, a top financial manager for the group .