The State Department has officially pulled the terror designation for Syria, Secretary Marco Rubio shared.
Rubio wrote on X that he has “formally rescinded Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.”
“This action unlocks new potential for Syria’s economic revitalization and progress,” he said. “The Trump Administration continues to advance U.S. national security to achieve peace, prosperity, and security in the Middle East.”
According to a press statement on the matter, the Trump administration has “taken unprecedented steps to provide sanctions relief for the benefit of the Syrian people,” which serve to recognize the “positive actions taken and further commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism.”
“In the past year, the Government of Syria has taken significant steps to counter terrorism, to include formally joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November and conducting operations to disrupt the terror networks of ISIS, al-Qa’ida, Hizballah, and Iran-aligned groups,” the statement adds. “Rescinding Syria’s designation as an SST and HTS’ designation as an SDGT eliminates the final major barriers for private sector investment in Syria and promotes Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy.”
In July, President Trump informed Congress of his intent to pull Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST).
“Lifting sanctions on Syria will unlock international trade and investment, give Syria a chance to rebuild, and open up a new chapter for the Syrian people,” the State Department said at the time. “A stable, unified Syria at peace with itself and its neighbors benefits not only the region, but the entire world.”
The rescission follows President Trump’s 2025 order directing sanctions relief for Syria as part of the “positive changes and counterterrorism actions taken by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.” President al-Sharaa has declared that “Syria will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”
