The U.S. government has removed Syria from a list of countries barred from purchasing or importing American weapons, marking a significant shift in its policy toward the Damascus administration. The change, announced Wednesday in the Federal Register by the State Department, modifies the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to allow arms sale requests from Syria to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

This development follows a series of moves by the Trump administration to relax longstanding sanctions on Syria, which have been in place since the rule of former President Bashar Assad. Last year, the administration began easing economic restrictions, and in August, Secretary of State Marco Rubio rescinded Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. These steps laid the groundwork for the latest policy adjustment. The State Department has also indicated plans to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, closed for 14 years amid escalating conflict.

Syria’s removal from the ITAR denial list reduces the number of countries subject to automatic refusal of U.S. arms export licenses to seven: Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, and Venezuela.

The current Syrian leadership, under interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader who overthrew the Assad regime nearly two years ago, has pursued reforms that have attracted positive attention from the Trump administration. Al-Sharaa’s government has sought to stabilize a nation devastated by a prolonged civil war and the spread of Islamic State militants, who also controlled large areas in northeastern and western Iraq.

Wednesday’s announced withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq could further increase Syria’s role in countering a possible resurgence of Islamic State fighters in the region. The shift in U.S. policy reflects a broader reevaluation of its strategic priorities in the Middle East following years of conflict.

While official statements highlight cautious optimism about Syria’s new leadership and prospects for stability, the situation remains complex, with unresolved security challenges across the country. The decision to reconsider arms sales permits to Syria signals a tentative step toward normalizing relations after years of isolation and sanctions.