US delists Syria as state sponsor of terrorism

The US State Department removes Syria from its list of State Sponsorsof Terrorism, according to a notice from the Treasury Department.

This comes as a Damascus court sentences to life in prison a former religious leader，affiliated with the ex-President Bashar al-Assad. The United States removes Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on Monday, lifting， a nearly half-century-old label.

The removal, posted on the US Treasury's website, tookeffect after a 45-day congressional review period triggered by。US President Donald Trump formally notifying Congressof his intention to rescind the designation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says in a statementthe US recognises the positive actions the Syrian government has

taken to distance itself from "acts of international terrorism" under

current President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani told Reuters on

Saturday the government hopes removing what he called the

"last obstacle" would help reconnect Syria to the global

financial and economic system and boost investment.

The designation was first imposed in 1979 under

President Hafez al-Assad for

supporting militant groups and remained throughout

the rule of his son Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled by rebels

led by the current president in December 2024.

This news comes following a latest Syrian court ruling that sees

Assad loyalist, former

Islamic religious leader, grand mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun,

sentenced to life in prison in a trial of officials affiliated with the rule of

Bashar al-Assad.

He was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder.

Several other senior Assad-era officials, including Assad himself

and his brother, Maher, have been sentenced to death in recent weeks.