BREAKING:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has formally removed Syria from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

The United States has also removed the former al-Nusrah Front – later known as HTS – from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

All of this comes after forces linked to Syria’s new Islamist government participated in horrific identity-based killings of the country’s minorities.

Nearly 1,500 Alawites were massacred in March 2025. Months later, more than 1,700 people were killed during the violence in the predominantly Druze province of Sweida – with a UN investigation finding that Syrian government forces initially targeted Druze civilians. Christians have also faced murders, kidnappings, robberies, and attacks.

Yet Washington now says that removing Syria’s terrorism designation will promote peace, prosperity, and security.

The organization that emerged from al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch has changed its name, its clothing, and its language – but its victims have already seen what lies underneath.

America is not rewarding demonstrated moderation.

It is rewarding jihadists for learning how to appear moderate.