Daijiworld Media Network - Damascus
Damascus, Aug 25: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has thanked the Syrian people and US President Donald Trump after Washington formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation that had remained in place since 1979.
Al-Sharaa described the development as Syria “shaking off a dark burden” and said the country was now moving towards development, reconstruction and rebuilding. He also thanked countries that had supported Syria during its transition.
“Today, Syria is shaking off a dark burden and tearing out a painful chapter of its past to embark on a path of development, reconstruction, and rebuilding,” al-Sharaa said in a video message.
The US State Department formally rescinded Syria's designation on August 24 after the completion of a mandatory 45-day congressional notification and review period. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision recognised steps taken by the Syrian government under al-Sharaa to distance the country from international terrorism.
The designation had been imposed in 1979 during the rule of former Syrian president Hafez al-Assad and remained in place throughout the rule of his son Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown in December 2024 by rebel forces led by al-Sharaa.
The US decision removes Syria from restrictions associated with the State Sponsors of Terrorism designation, including prohibitions affecting US foreign assistance, defence exports and certain financial transactions. The move is expected to reduce a major obstacle to international investment and help Syria reconnect with the global financial and economic system.
The decision also included the removal of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Nusrah Front, from its designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation. The US Treasury also removed HTS from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.
HTS was formerly led by al-Sharaa and was one of the main armed groups that fought against Assad's forces during the Syrian civil war. The US had already revoked HTS's Foreign Terrorist Organization designation in July 2025.
Rubio said the latest measures represented another major step by the Trump administration towards giving the Syrian people a path to economic prosperity. He cited the Syrian government's efforts to combat terrorism and its participation in the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat Islamic State.
The decision follows a broader shift in US policy towards Damascus since the fall of the Assad government. Trump had announced in July that he intended to remove Syria from the terrorism list and formally notified Congress, triggering the 45-day review period.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the decision as a historic milestone, saying the designation was associated with the policies of the former regime and did not represent the Syrian people. He said the move could support economic recovery, reconstruction and wider cooperation with Washington.
The removal is particularly significant for Syria's efforts to attract foreign investment after years of war, economic isolation and sanctions. Syrian officials have described the terrorism designation as one of the last major obstacles to reconnecting the country with international financial institutions and global markets.
The United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism now includes Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Syria's removal marks a major change in Washington's relationship with Damascus and provides the new Syrian government with greater scope to pursue reconstruction and economic development.