DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- For Syrians who have endured decades of U.S. sanctions, Washington's decision to remove their country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism has raised hopes of greater foreign investment, new jobs and improved living conditions, though some remain cautious about how quickly they will see real improvements in their daily lives.
The designation, in place since 1979, was formally lifted Monday. While the Syrian authorities have hailed the move as a historic diplomatic achievement, residents interviewed by Xinhua voiced measured expectations, focusing less on its diplomatic significance and more on tangible economic improvements.
"For us, what matters most is the economy, so we can rebuild the country, work, and attract foreign resources," said Osama al-Marji, a man in his 40s from the Damascus countryside. "Today, anyone who wants to start a project says there are sanctions and complications, and we, as citizens, are the first to feel that."
The terrorism listing was just one element of a much broader system of restrictions that accumulated over decades.
Washington imposed additional sanctions and restrictions on Damascus in 2004, which were expanded after the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, and further intensified in 2020, targeting those supporting the former government.
Since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government in December 2024, Washington has rapidly rolled back much of its sanctions framework. In May 2025, broad sanctions relief was granted under a general license. A month later, U.S. President Donald Trump terminated the national emergency underpinning the Syria sanctions program and revoked six executive orders that formed its foundation.
Analysts say the decision reflects Washington's changing geopolitical calculations in the Middle East, not least prompted by Syria's strategic position and altered regional alliances following the fall of al-Assad's government.
Yet for ordinary Syrians grappling with shattered infrastructure, shrinking purchasing power and declining living standards, the policy shifts have yet to translate into visible change.
"We have heard this in the media, but we haven't seen anything on the ground. Foreign companies haven't come to the country yet," Khaldoun Qassem, a Damascus resident in his 40s, told Xinhua.
"If foreign companies come and start operating in the country, people will find jobs. But for now, there is still nothing," Qassem added.
Abdul Nafea Hammam, a man in his 60s originally from the central province of Homs and now living in Damascus, echoed that sentiment: "We hope to see something tangible on the ground -- improving living conditions, for example, and a salary sufficient to cover household expenses."
Analysts warned that while the delisting removes a major barrier to financial reintegration, some U.S. restrictions remain in place. International investors also continue to weigh security, banking and regulatory risks beyond sanctions. ■
