The United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday after a mandatory congressional review period expired, ending a designation that had been in place for 47 years.
The legal deadline for Congress to review the decision ended on Aug. 24, completing the legislative review phase, a Syrian foreign ministry adviser said. President Donald Trump first informed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa of the decision on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Ankara on July 8. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the lifting of sanctions would open the door to international trade and investment, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move would help promote further investment in Syria.
The Trump administration has also lifted broader sanctions including those under the Caesar Act. Al-Sharaa previously led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which toppled the Assad regime in December 2024, and the group was itself removed from the US terror list last year.