US, July 9 -- President Donald Trump has informed Congress of his administration's decision to rescind Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, marking a major step in Washington's efforts to normalize ties with Damascus and support the country's economic recovery.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally notified Congress that the Trump administration plans to lift Syria's designation after a mandatory 45-day pre-notification period.

"Today, President Trump informed Congress of his administration's intent to rescind Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), following a 45-day pre-notification period," Rubio said. "This is yet another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at ...