[REVISION HISTORY]

US removal of Syria from terrorism sponsor list

Updated 18 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-15 22:12 UTC → 2026-09-19 16:44 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation in place since 1979. Announced on August 24, 2026, the decision followed a 45-day congressional review initiated by President Donald Trump in July 2026. This policy shift included revoking the designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization and followed the late 2025 repeal of the Caesar Act. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the move aims to ‘remove barriers to private sector investment and facilitate Syria’s reintegration into the global economy.’ The removal of HTS is particularly significant as the group is led by Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who broke ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016. Following the lifting of international sanctions and the Arab League’s removal of political and economic restrictions in September 2026, President al-Sharaa described the nation as undergoing a ‘new birth.’ Speaking at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai, he characterized Syria as transitioning from a source of regional instability to a ‘great opportunity’ for the Middle East. Economic indicators show growth from approximately $20 billion in late 2024 to $32 billion in 2025, with projections reaching $50 billion this year. Al-Sharaa highlighted the role of early investment initiatives, such as Dubai Ports World’s involvement in the Port of Tartus, and emphasized Syria’s agricultural potential to feed between 70 million and 100 million people. The government continues to focus on rebuilding state institutions and attracting Gulf and European investments. On September 16, 2026, the United States lifted the final two remaining arms-related sanctions on Syria imposed under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. According to a U.S.

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