RUBIO LIFTS TERROR DESIGNATION AGAINST RULING SYRIAN GROUP
STATE MUM ON LIFING TERROR DESIGNATION AGAINST PRESIDENT AND SYRIAN STATE
On Monday, reports surfaced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lift the terrorism designation against the Al-Nusra Front on Tuesday, July 8. The group—also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—led the rebel coalition that toppled the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December and now plays a central role in Syria’s new government.
Early Monday, a draft version of the revocation order leaked online. By late afternoon, the State Department confirmed the move in a press release from Rubio, stating that the designation would be officially lifted on July 8.
“The revocation follows the announced dissolution of HTS and the Syrian government’s commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms,” Rubio said. “This action builds on the momentum of the June 30 Executive Order, “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions”, and recognizes the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.”
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (Courtesy, Office of the President of Azerbaijan)
This step is the latest in a series of U.S. actions aimed at easing pressure on Syria’s new leadership. In late May, the Treasury issued General License Number 25, which lifted restrictions on many senior Syrian institutions.
US LIFTS SANCTIONS ON SYRIA
On Friday, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued Syria General License No. 25, effectively lifting decade-old sanctions on key Syrian institutions. The relief includes the Syrian Central Bank, Syrian Arab Airlines, the Syrian oil and gas industries and multiple government ministries.
President Trump first announced plans for sanctions relief on May 13 during his Middle East visit. The next day, he met with al-Sharaa in Riyadh. Footage from Syria showed crowds celebrating as news of lifted sanctions spread.
On June 30, the White House issued a sweeping executive order rescinding six prior sanctions orders issued by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. However, individuals tied to the former Assad regime were not granted relief. The June 30 order maintained sanctions on former officials linked to the kidnapping of Americans and the production of the drug captagon.
US DISMANTLES DECADES-OLD SYRIA SANCTIONS
On Monday, the US formally lifted the decades-old sanctions regime against Syria’s new government. However, the State Department declined to say whether terrorism designations would remain in place for President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Al Nusra Front, or Syria as a whole.
Trump’s order also instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary Rubio to “take all appropriate action” to review the designations of HTS, President al-Sharaa, and Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism.”
Tuesday’s action lifts the designation against Al-Nusra Front but does not affect the status of al-Sharaa or Syria itself. A request for comment to the State Department regarding the revocation—and the timing of any future changes to al-Sharaa’s or Syria’s designations referred The (b)(7)(D) to the already issued press statement and did not address the issue of the terrorism designations of al-Sharaa or the state sponsor of terrorism designation of Syria.
Notably, Rubio’s revocation order is dated June 23—seven days prior to Trump’s executive directive—suggesting that internal deliberations about lifting terrorism designations were underway before the presidential order was formally issued.