Canada Removes Syria From 'State Supporters Of Terrorism' List And Delists HTS, Keeps Individual Sanctions

Canada Removes Syria From Terrorism List; HTS Delisted

Canada announced on Friday that it has removed Syria from its list of state supporters of "terrorism" and revoked the terrorist designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The foreign ministry said the step follows similar recent actions by key allies and reflects what Ottawa described as efforts by Syria’s transitional authorities to stabilize the country and work with international partners.

Government Statement

"These decisions were not taken lightly," the ministry said, adding that the measures align with recent decisions by the United Kingdom and the United States and follow efforts by the Syrian transitional government to advance stability, build an inclusive and secure future for citizens, and cooperate with global partners to reinforce regional stability and counter terrorism.

Sanctions Kept In Place For Individuals

Despite the delisting, Canada said it will continue to maintain targeted sanctions on 56 Syrian individuals, including former officials from the previous administration and members of the deposed president’s family.

About HTS

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has long been sanctioned by Western governments because of historical links to al‑Qaeda. Several countries have recently adjusted designations for certain groups to enable diplomatic engagement or to support conflict de-escalation and humanitarian coordination. Canada’s delisting appears intended to facilitate interaction with the current authorities while retaining measures against named individuals.

Note On Reported Details

Some details in earlier reports — including characterizations about the status of Bashar al‑Assad, timelines of leadership change, and reported meetings between Syrian figures and specific foreign leaders — are inconsistent with widely available public records and should be verified independently. Ottawa’s announcement focused on the legal designation changes and the ongoing targeted sanctions list.

What Happens Next

Delisting a state or organization from a terrorism list typically removes certain legal restrictions and may ease diplomatic engagement, but it does not necessarily lift all sanctions or export controls. Canada emphasized that counter‑terrorism cooperation and regional security remain priorities.