A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is urging the State Department to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, arguing that the designation is no longer justified more than 18 months after the fall of the Assad regime.
In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic Representative Joe Wilson, and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren called for Syria's removal from the list, which currently includes Iran, Cuba and North Korea.
"Since the fall of the Assad regime, President Ahmed Al Sharaa and the new Syrian government have demonstrated continued commitment to counterterrorism operations within Syria," the lawmakers wrote.
They said Damascus has joined the US-led coalition against Daesh and continues to work closely with US Central Command (CENTCOM) on counterterrorism operations.
The lawmakers said the designation has become the "most significant remaining legal impediment" to Syria's reconstruction, adding that its removal “could create new opportunity for foreign investment, economic development and capacity building to ensure the Syrians can remain capable and willing partners to the United States.”
The statements come as the Trump administration reviews whether to remove Syria from its terrorism list after the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024 and the formation of a new government under President Ahmed al Sharaa.
Multiple steps required
A State Department official told Anadolu earlier this week that the "review is ongoing and in compliance with the applicable laws and criteria established by Congress."
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, declined to provide a timeline.
"There are a number of steps that would need to be taken by both the department and the president before the designation could be removed," said the official.
Syria has held the designation since 1979 — a status shared only with Cuba, North Korea, and Iran — and the label carries restrictions on security assistance, financial transactions, and foreign investment.
Sharaa visited the White House last November, marking the first visit by a Syrian head of state since the country's independence in 1946.
He had earlier met Trump in Riyadh in May 2025, shortly before Washington lifted the Caesar sanctions.
