United States lifts Syria terrorism designation after sanctions review

The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. The announcement came on July 8, after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met US President Donald Trump at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. It was their third face-to-face meeting. The US has also lifted economic sanctions on Syria, which had been in place for decades. The policy change is designed to help build a stable Syrian state after the Assad era. Syria is now positioning itself as a trade and oil transit route, offering an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. A reconstruction programme worth $216 billion is already underway, and new construction is visible in Damascus, including near Umayyad Square.