Syria: Ahmad al-Sharaa makes symbolic Visa payment as Syria emerges from US sanctions.

SHOTLIST UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION IN SYRIA (RELEASED ON AUG. 27, 2026) (USERS MUST CREDIT “SYRIAN PRESIDENT’S OFFICE” HANDOUT – FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY – DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO) 1. SYRIAN PRESIDENT AHMAD AL-SHARAA MAKING ELECTRONIC PAYMENT, USING VISA CARD AS SYRIAN CENTRAL GOVERNOR SAFWAT RASLAN SITS AND WATCHES HIM DAMASCUS, SYRIA (RELEASED ON AUG. 25, 2026) (USERS MUST CREDIT “SYRIAN PRESIDENT’S OFFICE” HANDOUT – FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY – DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO) 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT AHMAD AL-SHARAA, SAYING: “Today, Syria is shedding a dark stain from its shoulders and tearing up with its own hands a page from its painful past, to move into a new space of development, reconstruction and nation-building.” 3. WHITE FLASH 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT AHMAD AL-SHARAA, SAYING: “Great people of Syria, you have done it again. Sanctions have been lifted from you and restrictions have been removed.” 5. WHITE FLASH 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT AHMAD AL-SHARAA, SAYING: “I extend my sincere thanks to US President Donald Trump and to all the friendly and supportive countries that stood by us.” UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION IN SYRIA (RELEASED ON AUG. 27, 2026) / DAMASCUS, SYRIA (RELEASED ON AUG. 25, 2026) (USERS MUST CREDIT “SYRIAN PRESIDENT’S OFFICE” HANDOUT – FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY – DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO) - Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa made an electronic payment using a Visa card in Syria, in a symbolic move following Washington's lifting of sanctions and restrictions on the country. Al-Sharaa carried out the transaction in the presence of Syrian Central Bank Governor Safwat Raslan, marking a step toward reconnecting Syria with international financial transactions after decades of restrictions. The development came as Washington formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation that had been in place since 1979. Al-Sharaa welcomed the move in a video statement, saying Syria was "turning the page" on a painful chapter and moving toward development, reconstruction and rebuilding. He thanked US President Donald Trump for what he called a "historic decision" and expressed gratitude to countries and supporters that had stood by Syria. Syria's Foreign Ministry said the US decision opened a new chapter in the country's international relations and could support economic recovery and reconstruction.