The U.S. State Department removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list, the Treasury said in a notification issued Monday. The move follows a congressional review period that concluded earlier in 2026, when the delisting was first announced.
The removal marks a shift in U.S. policy toward Damascus, though no additional details on the rationale or conditions were provided in the notification. Syria had been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979, a status that carried economic and diplomatic restrictions. The delisting process began earlier this year, with the State Department signaling the change after the congressional review was completed.
The Treasury’s notification formalized the removal, though the specific implications for sanctions relief or trade were not detailed in the announcement. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on potential next steps or the criteria used to determine the delisting.
Syria’s removal from the list comes amid broader shifts in U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East, though the Treasury did not link the decision to other regional developments. The move follows a 2026 announcement by the State Department that the delisting would proceed after the congressional review period concluded.
