Brief
US removes Syria from arms export ban list
Washington amended ITAR to permit US defence articles to be sold to Syria after a policy change approved in August.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The United States announced on Wednesday that it has removed Syria from the list of countries barred from purchasing US weapons, changing the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to allow case‑by‑case licences.
The State Department said the amendment follows a defence trade policy approved on Aug. 19, 2026, which directs the department to codify the change and permit reviews of defence article and service transfers to Syria.
Ahmed al‑Sharaa, Syria’s president, has been seeking closer ties with Washington and relief from sanctions that he says impede the nation’s post‑war recovery. The move follows a series of US policy shifts under the Trump administration, including the removal of Syria’s “state sponsor of terrorism” designation and plans to reopen the US embassy in Damascus.
Key facts
- The US removed Syria from its arms export ban list. (aljazeera.com)
- The change amends the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). (aljazeera.com)
- The policy shift was approved on Aug. 19, 2026, by the US Secretary of State. (aljazeera.com)
- Syria’s president Ahmed al‑Sharaa is pursuing stronger US relations and sanctions relief. (aljazeera.com)
- The US previously removed Syria’s state‑sponsor‑of‑terrorism label and plans to reopen its Damascus embassy. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Syria removed from US arms export ban list”
