The Trump administration has taken a dramatic step by lifting sanctions on Syria. This move included revoking the terrorist designation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The group once led a rebellion that toppled President Bashar al-Assad. Now, it controls much of the Syrian government.
HTS began as al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch. Surprisingly, its interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa went from being a $10 million U.S. bounty target to meeting President Trump in June. He pushed hard to build ties with Washington. Al-Sharaa even offered to construct a Trump Tower in Damascus. Moreover, he promised to reduce tensions with Israel and allow U.S. access to Syrian oil and gas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocation in a memo. He stated, “In consultation with the Attorney General and Secretary of the Treasury, I hereby revoke the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.” This announcement came just one week after Trump signed an executive order ending many sanctions on Syria.
Trump said lifting sanctions would give Syria a chance to recover after years of civil war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that the move would help Syria “reestablish ties to global commerce and build international confidence.” At the same time, he stressed that Assad, terrorists, and other destabilizing actors remain blocked.
HTS is a Sunni Islamist group that evolved from Jabhat al-Nusra, Syria’s former al-Qaeda affiliate. The group received its terrorist designation under Trump’s State Department in 2018. Still, some sanctions need congressional approval before removal.
Interestingly, Reps. Ilhan Omar and Anna Paulina Luna recently introduced bipartisan legislation to lift sanctions on Syria. These sanctions have included financial penalties on individuals and companies linked to the Syrian government. They also blocked U.S. dealings with any Syrian entity, especially in oil and gas.
Overall, lifting sanctions on Syria signals a new direction in U.S. foreign policy. It opens doors for economic development but raises questions about future stability.
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