Trump Begins Process to Remove Syria from US Terror List

President Donald Trump informed his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday that he had decided to remove the country from the US list of designated state sponsors of terrorism.

"I promised to remove all barriers stopping you from rebuilding your country, and very soon, you will finally be able to do so", Trump wrote in a letter to al-Sharaa seen by Reuters.

"We have U.S. companies ready to invest in Syria and help make your country greater and more prosperous than ever before", he added in the letter, which a senior US administration official said was handed to al-Sharaa after their meeting in Ankara on Wednesday.

Trump said he had notified Congress, which will now conduct a 45-day review before the decision can take effect.

Designation as a state sponsor of terrorism carries restrictions on US foreign assistance, defense exports and certain financial transactions.

(Reuters, luc)