Afət Ziyadqızı
The US Department of State has removed Syria from the list of countries for which licenses to export and import defense products and services are automatically denied. The change has been formally incorporated into the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that, according to a final rule published in the Federal Register, the change follows a new defense trade policy adopted by the US secretary of state on August 19, 2026.
Under the new rules, applications to transfer defense goods and services to Syria will be assessed individually and on a case-by-case basis, replacing the previous blanket prohibition.
The statement says the change in Syria’s status became possible after the necessary legal procedures were completed and relevant restrictions under US law were lifted, including Syria’s removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Washington first imposed defense trade restrictions on Syria on December 29, 1979.
