The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as the Trump administration seeks to shape an emerging new order in the Middle East. But in its eagerness to seize that opportunity, it may have surrendered its leverage prematurely.

On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism had been rescinded following a mandatory 45-day congressional notification period. At the same time, the State Department removed Hay’at Tahrir al Sham from its list of terrorist groups.