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The United States on Monday removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, rescinding a decades-old designation that had severely limited investment and financial dealings with the country.
The move came days after Israeli aircraft carried out eight airstrikes on Aug. 18 targeting the runway of the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib province in northwestern Syria, damaging its infrastructure.
The U.S. State Department also revoked the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as a specially designated global terrorist organization.
The Treasury Department followed with related sanctions relief.
“Today’s action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
The move fulfills President Donald Trump’s commitment to provide sanctions relief to Syria’s post-Assad government.
Syria is no longer subject to prohibitions under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Washington also revoked the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization.
The Treasury Department also removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.
As a result, General License 25, which had authorized transactions otherwise prohibited because of the group’s involvement in the government, was revoked because it was “no longer necessary,” according to the office.
Trump formally notified Congress on July 8 of his intent to lift Syria’s state sponsor of terrorism designation following a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Ankara.
Syria had held the designation since 1979, a status shared only with Cuba, North Korea and Iran.
The label imposed major barriers on security assistance, financial transactions and foreign investment.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was one of the most prominent armed groups opposing Bashar Assad’s forces during Syria’s civil war.
The group was led by al-Sharaa, who became Syria’s president after Assad’s ouster.
The policy shift followed the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 and subsequent efforts by al-Sharaa to stabilize the country.
Al-Sharaa made a historic visit to the White House last November, marking the first by a Syrian leader since the country’s independence in 1946.
The visit followed an earlier meeting with Trump in Riyadh in May 2025, shortly before Washington lifted the Caesar sanctions.
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