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The United States has lifted its longstanding blanket ban on arms exports to Syria, opening the way for case-by-case reviews of defense sales and security services involving Damascus, the State Department said.
The department is amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to remove Syria from the list of countries subject to a policy of denial for licenses and other approvals, according to a public notice published in the Federal Register. The administrative rule is due to take effect on Thursday.
Case-by-case reviews planned
The change implements a decision authorized on Aug. 19 by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Under the revised defense trade framework, US authorities may assess individual applications for military equipment and security service transactions destined for or originating in Syria.
The Federal Register notice had not been published as of 1600 GMT and was expected to be released on Thursday.
Policy shift follows sanctions changes
The regulatory adjustment comes as the administration of President Donald Trump seeks to normalize diplomatic and trade relations with Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in late 2024.
As part of a conditional engagement strategy with Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Washington previously ended comprehensive economic sanctions and removed Damascus from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
