U.S. removes Syria from arms export denial list

The U.S. State Department amended the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to remove Syria from the list of countries subject to a policy of denial for defense export licenses, effective October 1.

The U.S. State Department has amended the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to remove Syria from the list of countries subject to a policy of denial for licenses and other approvals for defense exports. The rule took effect on October 1, 2026.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa with Trump at the White House (archive, November 2025)

On August 19, 2026, the Secretary of State approved a new defense trade policy for Syria allowing transfers of defense articles and services to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The rule implements that decision by removing Syria from ITAR section 126.1.

The move follows other steps by the Commerce, State and Treasury departments to ease sanctions and trade restrictions on Syria after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, and the rescission of Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, effective August 24, 2026.

Trump's meeting with the Syrian delegation at the White House (archive, November 2025)