Syria breaks 47-year isolation as US drops terrorism listing VIDEO

Syria has taken a symbolic step toward rejoining the global financial system, with the Syrian president making the country’s first payment using a Visa card just one day after the United States removed Damascus from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The move follows decades of US restrictions that severely limited Syria’s access to international financial networks. US sanctions had prevented Syrians from accessing much of the global banking system for more than 15 years.

Washington’s decision to remove Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list took effect on August 24, 2026, after the completion of a 45-day congressional review period. US President Donald Trump had announced plans to delist Syria in July.

Syria had remained on the US terrorism list for 47 years after being designated in 1979. Washington accused the government of then-President Hafez al-Assad of supporting armed groups opposed to Israel.

The designation remained in place after his son, Bashar al-Assad, assumed power in 2000 and continued throughout his presidency.

By Vafa Guliyeva