U.S. Removes Syria From Its List of Terrorism Sponsors

The move lifted economic sanctions on the country, raising hopes of further recovery after its brutal civil war. The United States has lifted the last of its crippling economic sanctions on Syria after the Treasury Department removed the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. The move was welcomed on Tuesday by Syrian officials, who view it as a crucial step toward reconstruction after the end of the country’s brutal civil war of nearly 14 years. “Great people of Syria, you have done it again,” President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria said, in comments carried by Syrian state media. “Sanctions have been lifted and restrictions removed. I ask God to help us serve you.” The United States designated Syria a state sponsor of terror in the late 1970s, when the country was ruled by the dictator Hafez al-Assad, largely because of his regime’s support for Palestinian armed groups. Additional U.S. sanctions were imposed during the rule of Mr. al-Assad’s son and successor, Bashar al-Assad.

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