Full Breakdown
U.S. Removes Syria from Arms Export Ban
By Drooid · · How we work
Background: From Assad to New Leadership
The United States has been gradually loosening restrictions that were imposed during the decades-long rule of the al-Assad family. After former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebel forces in December 2024, an interim government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa— a former fighter aligned with the al-Nusra Front—took power. The new leadership has prioritized rebuilding ties with Washington and seeking relief from economic sanctions that it says impede post-war recovery.
Official Policy Change
On August 19, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a revised defence trade policy that permits the United States to review defence articles and services to Syria on a case-by-case licensing basis. The State Department announced in a notice published in the Federal Register on Wednesday that it is amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to remove Syria from the list of countries for which the United States “denies licenses and other approvals” for arms exports. The administrative rule takes effect on Thursday, allowing future arms-sale requests from Syria to be evaluated individually. The Department also reiterated plans to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, which has been closed since 2012 (a 14-year closure).
Remaining ITAR Denial List
With Syria’s removal, only seven nations remain subject to the ITAR policy of denial for U.S. arms licences: Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Venezuela.
Potential Implications
U.S. officials describe the move as part of a broader strategy to normalize diplomatic and trade relations with the new Syrian government. Analysts note that the policy shift could enable limited U.S. defence sales to support Syrian security forces, potentially influencing the fight against any resurgence of the Islamic State in the region. At the same time, the change signals a significant departure from the Trump administration’s earlier stance of broad sanctions, reflecting an assessment that engagement with Damascus may promote regional stability.
