The United States will remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian Islamist militant group, from its Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Monday.

“In line with President Trump’s May 13 promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria, I am announcing my intent to revoke the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” Rubio said.

The removal, scheduled on Tuesday, follows HTS’s announced dissolution in January and the installation of a new Syrian government after rebel forces, led by HTS, ousted longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December.

“Tomorrow’s action follows the announced dissolution of HTS and the Syrian government’s commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms,” Rubio said.

The decision is part of a broader rollback of sanctions on Syria, following a May announcement and a June executive order by President Donald Trump that lifted punitive measures imposed since the start of the civil war in 2011.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed the announcement on X, calling it a continuation of Trump’s sanctions relief.

“We welcome the cancellation of the majority of the sanctions program imposed on the Syrian Arab Republic, pursuant to the historic executive order issued by President Trump,” he said. “This decision represents a significant turning point that will contribute to advancing Syria toward a new phase of prosperity, stability, and openness to the international community.”

HTS, formerly known as the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusta Front before rebranding, played a central role in the December surprise attack. Rebel forces rapidly seized key Syrian cities including Aleppo, Homs, Hama and the capital Damascus, ending more than 50 years of Assad family rule. 

HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa became Syria’s new president in January.

The end of U.S. sanctions and the removal of HTS from the terror list are expected to open the door to international reconstruction and investment.

Syria’s 14-year civil war killed more than 606,000 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another 13.5 million have been displaced, according to the UNHCR, the United Nations’ main refugee agency.

Rebuilding efforts could require between $250 billion and $400 billion, according to U.N. estimates.

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