Syria ‘shakes off’ past with removal from US ‘terror’ list, says al-Sharaa

What the report says

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa welcomed the United States’ decision to remove Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list, describing it as a break from what he called a painful chapter in the country’s past. The move, reported by Al Jazeera on 25 August 2026, is being presented by Syrian officials as a significant sanctions-relief step that could help unlock investment and support reconstruction after years of war and political upheaval.

According to the article, Washington rescinded the decades-old designation on Monday. US officials said the change would help create conditions for private-sector investment and economic recovery in Syria, while Treasury statements emphasized that anti-terrorism enforcement would continue. The designation had been in place since 1979, under Hafez al-Assad, and had imposed severe economic restrictions.

The reported reaction was broadly positive among regional governments. Turkiye, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia each welcomed the move, linking it to Syria’s stability, reconstruction and reintegration into the international community. The article also noted that the World Bank has estimated post-war reconstruction costs at more than $216bn, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

Al Jazeera also reported signs of broader diplomatic and economic reopening, including Syria’s launch of an English-language foreign media account and plans for new Syrian Airlines direct flights from Damascus to Copenhagen and Vienna starting in September. These steps suggest Damascus is seeking to deepen ties abroad as sanctions ease and reconstruction efforts advance.