Canada removes Syria from list of countries labeled as supporters of 'terrorism'

Canada has officially removed Syria from its designation as a state that supports terrorism, following a similar decision by the United States. The move also reflects efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaas government to stabilize the country and promote national security.

The announcement, made on Friday, comes as Syria approaches the one-year mark since the overthrow of long-serving leader Bashar al-Assad. In addition, Canada is revoking the terrorist label for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that played a key role in the coalition that ousted al-Assad.

Canadas foreign ministry emphasized that the decisions were made carefully. These actions align with recent choices by our allies, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and reflect the efforts of Syrias transitional government to foster stability, build a secure and inclusive future for its citizens, and cooperate with international partners to reinforce regional security and counter terrorism, the ministry stated.

Syria had been on Canadas list of state sponsors of terrorism since 2012, after the governments violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests led to a prolonged civil conflict. HTS had previously faced broad sanctions due to its al-Qaeda connections, but Western nations have begun delisting the group to enable better cooperation with Syrias new administration.

Since assuming leadership, Syrias current officials have attempted to distance themselves from past violence and project a more moderate image to both domestic and international audiences. Despite these changes, Canada continues to enforce sanctions on 56 individuals linked to the former Assad government, including ex-officials and members of the previous ruling family.

In related developments, the United States partially suspended its sanctions on Syria in June and extended the suspension in November following meetings between al-Sharaa and U.S. officials, including former President Donald Trump. Prior to these talks, al-Sharaa was removed from the U.S. list of specially designated global terrorists.

Al-Sharaa, who formerly led al-Qaedas Syrian branch, split from the group in 2016. Since then, he has further reshaped his public persona, reverting to his birth name from the alias Abu Mohammed al-Julani, and advocating for a tolerant and inclusive Syria. He also addressed the United Nations General Assembly this year, emphasizing Syrias intention to restore its international standing and strengthen economic relations with both the U.S. and the European Union.

Author: Harper Simmons