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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa told the nation in a Monday evening address that the removal of Syria from the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list marks a new chapter for the country, paving the way for development, reconstruction and nation-building. He described the decision as the removal of a dark stain, allowing Syria to turn the page on a painful past and enter a brighter future while thanking US President Donald Trump and supportive countries that backed the move. Al-Sharaa noted that the Syrian people had once again succeeded in overcoming the sanctions and restrictions that had been imposed on their country for decades.
The designation dated back to 1979, when US authorities accused the government of former President Hafez al-Assad of supporting armed groups, and it remained in place throughout the rule of his son Bashar al-Assad. Assad was toppled in December 2024 by rebel forces led by al-Sharaa, ending a civil conflict that had lasted nearly 14 years and devastated the economy as well as much of the nation’s infrastructure. The delisting took effect after President Trump notified Congress in July 2026, initiating a 45-day review period that concluded without objection, a process confirmed by the US Treasury Department.
Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the US action represents an important shift that opens a new chapter in international relations with Syria and will contribute to supporting economic recovery efforts while creating suitable conditions for reconstruction and enhancing stability in Syria and the region. Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh described the outcome as a major and historic success for Syrian diplomacy that opens a long-awaited door to strengthening integration into the global economic and financial system, attracting investment and modern technologies, and supporting development opportunities, according to the official news agency SANA. Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan added that the step restores the country to its natural place in the global economic system as the bank works to build a modern and reliable financial framework.
A World Bank report from October 2025 estimated that Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction would cost $216 billion, a figure nearly ten times the country’s projected GDP at the time and focused primarily on damaged infrastructure and housing after more than 13 years of fighting. The assessment underscored the immense scale of the challenge and the need for substantial international support to address the economic contraction that saw GDP decline by more than 50 percent during the conflict. Delisting is expected to reduce barriers for banks and investors who had been deterred by the terrorism designation even after broader sanctions were eased.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the action was taken in recognition of the positive steps and further commitments by al-Sharaa to fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism. Only Cuba, Iran and North Korea remain on the US list, according to a State Department overview that highlighted the significance of Syria’s removal. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack characterized the change as a decisive step in the country’s journey from isolation to partnership and from a source of terrorism to a committed partner in the global fight against it.
