Syria welcomes US terrorism delisting as new era takes shape
00:05, 25/08/2026, TuesdayU: Update: 00:05, 25/08/2026, Tuesday
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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani
Syria welcomed its removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday, describing the decision as a consequence of the political transformation that followed the fall of the former regime. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said the move reflects Damascus’ stated commitment to international security, cooperation and closer relations with the United States.
Shaibani said the designation had been imposed in connection with policies of the former Syrian government and argued that it did not represent the Syrian people or the country’s history. He described the US decision, announced after 47 years, as an important development for Syria.
The foreign minister said the change demonstrated the impact of the transformation inside Syria and signaled the new government’s intention to engage more actively with the international community.
Syria seeks to end years of isolation
Under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Shaibani said Syria intends to move beyond the legacy of international isolation by promoting greater transparency and cooperation based on shared interests and mutual respect.
He said such an approach was intended to support economic development and stability in both Syria and the wider region. Shaibani also expressed appreciation to US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, members of Congress and others involved in the decision.
US removes terrorism designations
The US State Department announced earlier Monday that Syria had been taken off Washington’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. The move also ended the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, with the US Treasury Department backing the decision.
HTS was a major armed faction in the conflict against Bashar al-Assad’s forces and was led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, who became Syria’s president after Assad was removed from power in December 2024.
Economic opening remains a key priority
Syria had remained on the US terrorism list since 1979. Damascus now expects the removal to facilitate wider economic activity, investment and international engagement while eliminating restrictions directly tied to the designation.
However, other US measures against Syria remain in place and will require separate legal and administrative steps before they can be lifted.
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