Syria removed: Which countries are still on the US ‘terror’ list – and why?

The United States has removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT), marking another major shift in Washington’s relationship with the country following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024 at the end of a brutal 14-year civil war.“Today, Syria shakes off a dark stain and tears away a painful chapter of its past to embark on a path of development, reconstruction and rebuilding,” Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in a speech on Tuesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Syria’s civil society navigates post-Assad era: Partnership or control?list 2 of 3‘Barrel bomb mufti’ sentenced to life in Syrialist 3 of 3US removes Syria from ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ listend of listUS President Donald Trump had announced the planned removal in July, which had been in place since 1979. It took effect following a 45-day congressional review.The US “terrorism” designation had triggered restrictions on foreign assistance, defence exports, certain financial transactions and the transfer of some dual-use goods – products which can have military uses, as well.It can also cause banks and companies to be wary of doing business with a country becaus...