Canada has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and revoked the “terrorist entity” designation applied to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), joining a growing number of countries easing long-standing sanctions on Damascus.
The policy shift follows HTS’s ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad last December and the group’s subsequent takeover of government institutions.
“These decisions were not taken lightly,” Canada’s foreign ministry said in a statement, emphasizing that the move aligns with recent actions by key allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Ottawa framed the decision as support for the Syrian transitional government’s efforts to restore stability after years of conflict.
Canada first labeled Syria a state supporter of terrorism in 2012, as Assad’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations triggered a devastating civil war.
HTS, long sanctioned for its historical ties to Al-Qaeda, has recently been delisted by several Western states to facilitate diplomatic engagement with Syria’s new leadership, now headed by former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Since assuming control, the new government has sought to distance itself from its militant roots and project a more moderate, reform-minded image to both Syrians and the international community.
Despite the easing of restrictions, Canada says it will maintain targeted sanctions on 56 Syrian individuals, including members of the former Assad regime and members of the Assad family.
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