U.S. removes Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list and lifts sanctions on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
AKIPRESS.COM – The U.S. Department of State has removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, while the U.S. Department of the Treasury has lifted sanctions against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, according to an official statement.
Syria had been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism since December 1979.
In late June 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order lifting sanctions against the country that were originally imposed in 2004, while also directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review Syria’s terrorism status.
In early July 2026, Trump notified Congress that his administration intended to alter Syria’s status, stating that the move would grant the country access to international trade and investment, offering it a chance at reconstruction.
The Assad family regime had ruled Syria for over 50 years until December 2024, when President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown and fled to Russia. Power was assumed by former Islamist rebels from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who pledged to transform Syria into a democratic state.
The European Union had already announced the lifting of all economic sanctions against Syria in May 2025, alongside partial relief previously granted by the United States.
