In a statement reported by Al Jazeera on Tuesday, al-Sharaa said Syria was 'shaking off' its past following the removal of the decades-old designation. The US State Department's decision lifts a range of economic penalties that have crippled Syria's economy and isolated it from international finance and trade.
The designation had been in place since 1979, originally applied to the government of Hafez al-Assad. Under President Bashar al-Assad, the list was expanded during the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, to include additional sanctions targeting individuals and entities associated with the regime. The removal now opens the door for broader foreign investment and aid necessary to rebuild infrastructure devastated by over a decade of conflict.
Al-Sharaa, who leads the transitional administration following the fall of the Assad regime earlier this year, described the decision as a 'historic step' toward normalizing Syria's position in the international community. He emphasized that the relief would accelerate reconstruction efforts, particularly in housing, energy, and transportation sectors.
The move represents a dramatic reversal of US policy. Previous administrations had maintained the designation partly due to allegations that the Syrian government provided safe harbor to militant groups and used chemical weapons against civilians. Supporters of the designation argued that removing it without fundamental changes in governance would reward authoritarian rule.
US officials have not publicly detailed the conditions attached to the delisting, but analysts suggest it is tied to security assurances and commitments to humanitarian access. The removal of the terror list designation is separate from other US sanctions, though it is expected to ease banking restrictions and encourage international financial institutions to engage with Syria.
Reactions have been mixed. Regional neighbors including Jordan and Iraq have cautiously welcomed the development, viewing it as a step toward stability. Human rights organizations, however, criticized the decision, warning that it may undermine accountability for wartime atrocities.
Al-Sharaa's administration now faces the monumental task of attracting billions of dollars in reconstruction funding while navigating a fractured political landscape. The lifting of sanctions is a critical first step, but sustained progress will depend on security and political reforms.