On August 24, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally removed Syria from the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. Syria had been included on the list since its inception in 1979, marking the end of a decades-long designation that had isolated the nation from international financial systems and restricted defense exports.

The policy shift coincides with the rise of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Muhammad al-Jawlani. Al-Sharaa, who previously led the Nusra Front—an al-Qaida affiliate—was himself a designated terrorist until November 2025. Alongside the state's delisting, the U.S. removed the terrorist designation for Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab, another former founding member of the Nusra Front. The administration’s decision also included the delisting of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, the successor group to the Nusra Front that now forms the backbone of Syria's security services.

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Proponents of the move argue that aligning Syria with the West could diminish Russian influence in the Mediterranean and further isolate Iran. Since the removal of comprehensive sanctions in June 2025, the administration has sought to foster a counterterrorism partnership with Damascus, particularly regarding operations against the Islamic State group, al-Qaida, and Hezbollah. Syria officially joined the coalition against the Islamic State in November 2025.

However, the decision carries significant risks. Security analysts and international observers have raised concerns regarding the presence of thousands of foreign fighters within Syrian state forces and the potential for internal dissent from hard-liners. Furthermore, critics point to reports of state-sanctioned violence against civilians under al-Sharaa’s leadership in 2025 as evidence of ongoing instability. The administration’s strategy now hinges on the hope that the Syrian government will remain a reliable partner, despite the complex history of its leadership.

Source: The Conversation