[House Document 119-168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 119-168
CERTIFICATION OF RESCISSION OF SYRIA'S DESIGNATION AS A
STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
transmitting
A CERTIFICATION OF RESCISSION OF SYRIA'S DESIGNATION AS A STATE SPONSOR
OF TERRORISM
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
July 9, 2026.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and
ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, July 8, 2026.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: In accordance with section 1754(c)(4) of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019,
Public Law 115-232 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)(4)), I transmit herewith
a report certifying that: (1) the Government of Syria has not
provided any support for acts of international terrorism during
the preceding 6-month period; and (2) the Government of Syria
has provided assurances that it will not support acts of
international terrorism in the future. After review of Syria's
record on terrorism since the fall of the Assad regime in
December 2024, including intelligence reporting, as well as
assurances received from the Government of Syria, the Secretary
of State has advised that Syria has met these conditions.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump.
Certification of Rescission of Syria's Designation as a State Sponsor
of Terrorism
Pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United
States, and consistent with section 1754(c)(4) of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, Public Law 115-
232 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)(4)), I hereby certify, with respect to
the proposed rescission of the determination of December 29,
1979, regarding Syria, that:
(i) the Government of Syria has not provided any
support for acts of international terrorism during the
preceding 6-month period; and
(ii) the Government of Syria has provided assurances
that it will not support acts of international
terrorism in the future.
This certification shall also satisfy the provisions of
section 620A(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,
Public Law 87-195, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2371(c)), and section
40(f)(1)(B) of the Arms Export Control Act, Public Law 90-629,
as amended (22 U.S.C. 2780(f)).
Donald J. Trump.
The White House, July 8, 2026.
Memorandum of Justification for Rescission of Syria's State Sponsor of
Terrorism Designation
Syria was designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism on
December 29, 1979, due to its support for international
terrorist organizations, including knowingly harboring and
facilitating terrorist organizations and activities. After
careful review and as described herein, the President has
determined that the record supports the statutorily required
certification that the Government of Syria has not provided any
support for acts of international terrorism during the
preceding 6-month period and has provided assurances that it
will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.
The President's certification to permit rescission of
Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism represents
the culmination of diplomatic effort and monitoring of Syria's
behavior by the United States.
Syria has taken steps to fully distance itself from
international terrorism and has taken action against terrorist
organizations and activities operating in Syria. On January 29,
2025, the Government of Syria announced Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
(HTS) and its allied groups had disbanded, and HTS leader Ahmed
al-Sharaa was appointed president of Syria. On July 8, 2025,
the Department of State delisted HTS as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization. On November 7, 2025, President Ahmed al-Sharaa
was delisted as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
On November 10, 2025, Syria joined the Global Coalition to
Defeat ISIS and has on several occasions cooperated on
counterterrorism efforts with the U.S. military to counter
specific ISIS threats. Since January 29, 2025, the Government
of Syria, under President al-Sharaa's instruction, has also
ended prior cooperation with Iran and affiliated militias,
taking steps in May 2026 to interdict smuggling networks and
limit the re-entry of groups such as Hizballah. Since the onset
of Operation Epic Fury, Syria has actively targeted Hizballah
cells and disrupted Hizballah plots in Syria. Syrian
authorities have arrested ISIS-linked militants following the
June 22, 2025 Mar Elias Church attack, foiled Hizballah
smuggling attempts, and increased pressure on Palestinian
terrorist organizations, reportedly closing all Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine--General Command (PFLP-GC)
offices.
Direct engagement with the Government of Syria has
permitted the United States to secure assurances, signed June
12, 2026, of Syria's commitment to renounce international
terrorism. In the assurances, Syria reiterated its commitment
to cooperate in combating terrorism, condemned all terrorist
acts in all forms and manifestations, and any action to
encourage, support, finance, or cover up any terrorist act,
method, or practice. The Government of Syria also committed
that it will not support any acts of international terrorism in
the future, and that it will prevent its territory from being
used to organize, finance, or execute terrorist acts in any
other country, including the United States. The Government of
Syria further committed to abide by its nonproliferation and
disarmament obligations, continue working with the Organization
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to identify and destroy
any remaining chemical weapons and related materials in Syria,
and to take measures to prevent the development or
proliferation of biological weapons in Syria. Additionally, the
Government of Syria committed that it will not help plan,
finance, or support in any way the activities of any terrorist
organization, regardless of such activity. The June 12, 2026,
assurances stated, in part:
``The Government of Syria condemns all acts of
terrorism in all forms and manifestations. The
Government of Syria reiterates and confirms that it
does not support acts of international terrorism and
will not support acts of international terrorism in the
future. It likewise condemns any action to encourage,
support, finance, or cover up any terrorist act,
method, or practice.''
``The Government of Syria assures that it will take all
practicable measures to prevent Syrian territory from
being used to organize, finance, support, or carry out
terrorist acts against any country. The Government of
Syria will deny safe haven to all terrorists. The
Government of Syria will monitor and investigate and
take action to prevent and disrupt use by terrorists or
their supporters of Syrian territory for training,
weapons smuggling, travel, and financial
facilitation.''
``The Government of Syria will not help plan, finance,
or support in any way the activities of al-Qa'ida,
ISIS, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any
affiliate of these groups, or any other terrorist
organization, regardless of the purpose of such
activity. The Government of Syria will collaborate with
the United States to disrupt the activities of any of
these organizations or their affiliates in Syria.''
``The Government of Syria will not provide any support
to terrorist organizations to carry out attacks against
the United States, including by providing terrorist
organizations with non-public information regarding the
locations and movements of U.S. property, equipment, or
personnel.''
``The Government of Syria will abide by its
nonproliferation and disarmament obligations and take
necessary steps to prevent the proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction to or by terrorist groups. The
Government of Syria will take measures to prevent the
development or proliferation of chemical weapons by any
actors in Syria and will continue working with the
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to
identify and destroy any remaining chemical weapons and
related materials in Syria, including by securing sites
and materials to prevent proliferation to terrorist
groups. The Government of Syria will take measures to
prevent the development or proliferation of biological
weapons by any actors in Syria, including by ratifying
the Biological Weapons Convention. The Government of
Syria will take all practicable measures to prevent
nuclear proliferation in Syria, including by taking
steps to comply with its Comprehensive Safeguards
Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency
and with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons.''
In the same assurances signed June 12, 2026, the Government
of Syria also provided assurances that it will fully enforce
its counterterrorism laws and regulations and monitor,
investigate, and prosecute government officials, employees,
contractors, and military personnel engaging in or providing
support to terrorists:
``The Government of Syria will adhere to international
standards, conventions, any obligations related to the
prevention and suppression of international terrorism.
The Government of Syria will implement all Financial
Action Task Force standards and UN obligations related
to countering the financing of terrorism. The
Government of Syria will also cooperate on the
enforcement of U.S. counterterrorism sanctions and take
appropriate measures to implement corresponding
sanctions domestically.''
``The Government of Syria will prohibit all Syrian
government officials, employees, contractors, and
military personnel from participating in, planning,
conducting terrorist activities and related acts of
violence, or providing support to terrorist actors and
entities, and enforce adequate penalties for violations
of such directives. The Government of Syria will
monitor government officials, employees, contractors,
and military personnel for compliance with such
prohibitions, investigate all potential violations, and
take timely and appropriate action, including
prevention, disruption, and prosecution, in a manner
that is consistent with human rights obligations and
commitments, against those government officials,
employees, contractors, and military personnel found to
be providing support to terrorist actors or entities.''
Following a review of all available information, there is
no credible evidence at this time of ongoing support by Syria
for international terrorism, and there is a sufficient basis
for certification by the President to Congress that Syria has
not provided any support for acts of international terrorism
during the preceding 6-month period.
While the Government of Syria has attempted to, and
sometimes succeeded at, integrating designated terrorists and
terrorist organizations into its governmental institutions and
military, the Department of State assesses that this does not
constitute support for acts of international terrorism as the
intentions of the Government of Syria were to dismantle,
rehabilitate, and prevent such designated terrorists from
conducting acts of international terrorism. There is no
credible evidence that the Government of Syria has otherwise,
within the preceding 6 months, provided material support,
services, non-public information, or resources to al-Qa'ida,
ISIS, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any affiliate of
these groups, or any other terrorist organization. As evidenced
above, Syria has provided specific assurances that it will not
do so in the future.
Should we obtain credible evidence at any time of Syrian
support in the future for acts of international terrorism, the
Secretary of State could again designate Syria as a State
Sponsor of Terrorism.
The President's report to Congress certifying that Syria
has not provided any support for acts of international
terrorism during the preceding 6-month period and has provided
assurances that it will not provide support for acts of
international terrorism in the future will permit the Secretary
of State to rescind Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism
designation following the 45-day Congressional review period.
Rescission in this case will strongly support the objectives of
the SST legislation and will demonstrate to Syria the benefits
of cooperation with the international community, including the
United States, to counter international terrorism.
[all]