US terror list removal 'shakes off dark stain' from Syria, al-Sharaa says

The United States has officially rescinded its long-standing terror designation for Syria, a policy that had been in effect since 1979. This administrative change removes severe economic restrictions previously imposed on the country and allows for the resumption of private investment. Simultaneously, the U.S. State Department has removed the terror designation from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the militant group led by al-Sharaa that was instrumental in the efforts to topple the Assad government.

Al-Sharaa characterized the removal of the terror designation as a significant development that helps shake off a long-standing dark stain from Syria’s international status. The move marks a major shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the region, signaling a transition from previous containment strategies to a new framework involving the group that successfully challenged the existing Syrian administration.