Syrian president marks Syria’s removal from U.S. terrorism-sponsor list with Visa coffee purchase in Damascus

The Syrian president marked Syria’s removal from the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism after a 47-year stay by using a Visa card to pay for coffee at a Damascus café, according to local business reports. The symbolic purchase in the capital highlighted how the change could soon affect ordinary consumers.

Visa and Mastercard had not operated in Syria for roughly 15 years because of sanctions tied to the terrorism-sponsor designation. During that period, cardholders and businesses were largely cut off from global payment rails, forcing most everyday transactions onto a cash basis.

In May 2026, Syria carried out its first test payments after the long interruption, representing the first concrete step toward restoring card-based transactions. The reactivation of the networks could ease commerce and help Syrian merchants reconnect with international financial systems.

Washington’s decision to remove Damascus from the terrorism-sponsor list ends one of the longest-running such designations and removes a major legal barrier to foreign banking and investment, although other sanctions and operational hurdles may still remain.