President Barzani links Syria’s terrorism-list removal to closer Iraq ties

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday welcomed the US removal of Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, calling it an important step toward the country's recovery, stability and stronger ties with Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region.

Barzani said the move could help Damascus regain its “natural role in the region and the world” and build “a secure future that safeguards the rights of all components of Syria.”

The US State Department announced Syria's removal from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list on Monday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move came “in recognition of the positive actions” taken by transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa to “fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism.”

Syria had been on the US list since 1979, when Washington designated the government of former President Hafez al-Assad over its support for militant groups. The designation remained throughout the rule of his son Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 by opposition forces led by al-Sharaa.

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