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The Conversation
The Conversation
Jason M. Blazakis, Professor of the Practice and Director of Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism, Middlebury College

In taking Syria off state sponsor of terrorism list, US is putting its faith in al-Qaida alumni – that presents risks and opportunities

U.S. President Donald Trump meets Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Turkey on July 8, 2026. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Syria’s delisting as a state sponsor of terrorism was a long time coming.

The country had, after all, been on the U.S. State Department list of proscribed nations since it was created in 1979 – the only nation originally listed still on it.

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