Ottawa cites similar move by US as well as Syrian government\u2019s efforts to advance stability in the country.<\/p>\n
Published On 6 Dec 20256 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
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Canada has removed Syria from its list of states that support \u201cterrorism\u201d, citing a similar move by the United States as well as efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa\u2019s government to \u201cadvance\u201d the country\u2019s stability.<\/p>\n
The announcement on Friday comes as Syria prepares to mark one year since the toppling<\/a> of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.<\/p>\n Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s foreign ministry said it was also revoking the \u201cterrorist\u201d designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that spearheaded the alliance that helped remove al-Assad.<\/p>\n In a statement, the ministry said the decisions were \u201cnot taken lightly\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThese measures are in line with recent decisions taken by our allies, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and follows the efforts by the Syrian transitional government to advance Syria\u2019s stability, build an inclusive and secure future for its citizens, and work alongside global partners to reinforce regional stability and counter terrorism,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n Canada had listed Syria as a \u201cstate supporter of terrorism\u201d in 2012, as al-Assad\u2019s crushing of pro-democracy protests plunged the country into civil war.<\/p>\n HTS had been widely sanctioned over its links to al-Qaeda, but several Western states have delisted the group to allow for better collaboration with the new Syrian government.<\/p>\n Since taking power, Syria\u2019s new leaders have sought to break from their violent past and present a more moderate image to Syrians and foreign powers.<\/p>\n The ministry said it was still maintaining sanctions on 56 Syrian individuals, including former officials from al-Assad\u2019s former government and members of the toppled president\u2019s family.<\/p>\n The US partially suspended sanctions against Syria in June and then extended the suspension in November, following talks between al-Sharaa and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House.<\/p>\n Days before that meeting, the US had said that\u00a0al-Sharaa was no longer<\/a> a \u201cspecially designated global terrorist\u201d.<\/p>\n Al-Sharaa, who once led al-Qaeda\u2019s branch in Syria, split from the group in 2016.<\/p>\n Since removing al-Assad, al-Sharaa has further reinvented his image, dropping the alias Abu Mohammed al-Julani for his birth name and promoting a tolerant and inclusive Syria.<\/p>\n