Syria set to leave U.S. terrorism sponsor list after 47 years

The United States is set to formally remove Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list after nearly 47 years, following the expiration on Saturday of a mandatory 45-day congressional review period without action to block the move. The final procedural step is publication of the rescission in the Federal Register by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.middleeasteye+2

Syria's removal marks the end of one of the longest-standing designations on the list, which Washington first imposed on December 29, 1979, citing support for international terrorism under then-President Hafez al-Assad.vinnews+1

The Path to Delisting

President Trump notified Congress on July 8 of his intent to rescind the designation, a decision he communicated directly to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a meeting in Ankara. The State Department said the move followed "formal assurances" from al-Sharaa that "Syria will not support acts of international terrorism in the future," as well as a certification that Syria's government had not supported terrorism in the preceding six months.United States Department of State+2

The notification triggered a statutory 45-day review window during which Congress could have blocked the decision. That period expired on August 22 without reported opposition.Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)+1

Jihad Makdissi, Syria's adviser for American affairs, noted on the social platform X that the deadline's expiration "removes a key procedural obstacle" but does not automatically end the designation — the administration must still complete the final executive step of Federal Register publication.Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)

A Post-Assad Recalibration

The delisting is the culmination of a broader effort by Washington to reset relations with Syria's transitional government following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. The Trump administration issued an executive order on June 30, 2025, directing sanctions relief for Syria, and Congress repealed the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act in December 2025 as part of the fiscal year 2026 defense authorization.Cleary Gottlieb+2

Officials have said lifting the designation will ease barriers to investment, trade, and Syria's reintegration into the global economy. Once the change takes effect, only Iran, North Korea, and Cuba will remain on the list. Syria will be the first country removed since Sudan's delisting in 2020.FRANCE 24+2