Articles

Stories, guides, and updates from the Unblock Syria team.

An official U.S. document listing Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, with an inked stamp resting beside it, unpressed — the final approval not yet given.

Syria's Terror Designation Comes Down to 45 Days

On 8 July 2026, Washington moved to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism — the last designation standing since 1979. But it isn't final: a mandatory 45-day review runs first. Why lifting the label is a legal process, not a signature — and what it still costs Syria.

Fadel Abdul Ghany9 Jul, 20267 min read

A worn passport with an intercity bus ticket and a glass of tea on a table, evoking the journey a Syrian medical student makes for a single notarization.

A Stamp Anyone Can Get From Home, Unless You're Syrian

A Syrian medical student needs a two-minute identity check to get certified to practice abroad. Because Syria is blocked, that signature means a border crossing, days in Amman, and at least $260. After a portal glitch voided his first attempt, his bill is heading toward $800.

Omar Albeik29 Jun, 20264 min read