Washington has officially removed Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending the sanctions regime that had been in place against Damascus since 1979. At the same time, the US State Department revoked the terrorist organization status for the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who headed the armed forces that toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Economic Consequences and the End of Isolation
The revocation of the 1979 designation entails the lifting of severe economic restrictions that had long blocked the country's participation in the global financial system. This step opens a direct path for private foreign investment, reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, and normalization of trade relations. According to analysts, this decision removes the last major obstacle to integrating the Syrian economy into global supply chains and attracting capital to key sectors.
The Fate of HTS and the Legitimization of al-Sharaa
Special attention in the new political course is given to the transformation of former armed opposition groups. The US State Department justified the removal of terrorist status from HTS and Ahmed al-Sharaa personally by their decisive steps to fully distance themselves from international terrorism and their commitment to building a secular, inclusive state. Earlier, Washington had already cancelled the 10 million dollar reward for information about the group's leader, which was part of multilateral efforts to recognize Damascus's new political direction.
Official Reaction and Geopolitical Context
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa welcomed Washington's decision, stating that removal from the blacklist allows the country to "shake off the dark burden" of years of international isolation. The US State Department emphasized that this step is a powerful political signal recognizing Syria's transition to a new era of stability and reforms. The decision was also positively received by regional players: in particular, Turkey officially welcomed Syria's removal from the sanctions list, calling it an important step for regional security.
As of today, after the removal of Damascus, only three countries remain on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. Experts note that this historic turn will require the new Syrian leadership not only to implement internal reforms but also to actively cooperate with international financial institutions to effectively capitalize on the emerging investment opportunities.
