The United States has formally removed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa from its terrorism blacklist, just days before his scheduled visit to Washington, signaling a major diplomatic shift in U.S.-Syria relations.
Announcing the decision on Friday, the U.S. State Department said the delisting follows significant progress by the Syrian leadership since the departure of Bashar al-Assad and the end of more than five decades of authoritarian rule.
“These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
Pigott added that Sharaa’s government had fulfilled key U.S. conditions, including cooperation in locating missing American citizens and the elimination of remaining chemical weapons stockpiles.
Once linked to Al-Qaeda and designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” Sharaa had previously faced a U.S. bounty. His ascent to power nearly a year ago followed a swift military campaign backed by Turkey and Gulf Arab allies.
The policy reversal comes a day after Washington led a successful United Nations Security Council vote lifting UN sanctions on Sharaa, further legitimizing his leadership.
Sharaa is expected to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where talks will focus on rebuilding Syria and strengthening bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, U.S. ally Israel, which has carried out repeated airstrikes in Syria since Assad’s ouster, remains wary of Washington’s rapprochement with Damascus.
