Canada has lifted its terrorism designation on Syria and removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS, from its list of banned groups, following political changes in Damascus after the fall of Bashar al-Assad last December.
Canadian officials announced the decision on Friday, saying it aligns with recent moves by allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
In a statement, Canada’s foreign ministry said, “These decisions were not taken lightly.” It added that the steps were “in line with recent decisions taken by our allies, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and follow the efforts by the Syrian transitional government to advance Syria’s stability.”
Syria was first listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by Canada in 2012, after Assad’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters pushed the country into a long civil war.
HTS had also been under heavy Western sanctions due to its past links with Al-Qaeda. But several nations have now reversed the designation to allow closer engagement with Syria’s new leadership, headed by former HTS figure Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Since taking control, the transitional government has tried to rebrand itself and distance its administration from years of militant activities, aiming to win support from both Syrians and the international community.
Despite lifting the broad sanctions, Canada said it is keeping restrictions on 56 Syrian individuals, including former Assad officials and members of the Assad family.
The foreign ministry noted that these measures remain in place as part of ongoing efforts to monitor the country’s political transition.
