Canada Officially Announce Syria Removes From Terrorism List:

According to Canada’s foreign ministry, the move reflects the progress made by Syria’s new transitional government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The ministry said the decision was “not taken lightly,” but it believed the Syrian government is taking meaningful steps to bring stability to the country after years of civil war. Canada also removed the “terrorist” designation from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group once heavily sanctioned due to its past links to al-Qaeda. Several Western nations have recently taken similar steps to allow for cooperation with Syria’s new authorities. HTS played a major role in the alliance that eventually helped remove al-Assad from power. In its statement, Canada said the updated designations match recent policy shifts by its allies and reflect Syria’s efforts to rebuild. It added that the new government is focusing on creating a safer, more inclusive environment for its citizens and strengthening ties with international partners to support regional stability and fight terrorism. Canada originally listed Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism in 2012, shortly after al-Assad’s harsh crackdown on pro-democracy protesters pushed the country into a long and devastating war. Since the fall of the former regime, Syria’s new leadership has worked to distance itself from its violent past and present a more moderate and cooperative image to both Syrians and the world. Although Canada has removed Syria and HTS from its terrorism list, it has kept sanctions on 56 individuals. These include former officials from al-Assad’s government as well as members of the former president’s family. Canadian officials said these targeted sanctions will remain to ensure accountability for past abuses. The United States made similar policy changes earlier this year. Washington partially suspended sanctions against Syria in June and extended the suspension in November. This came after talks between President al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Shortly before the meeting, the U.S. also announced that al-Sharaa was no longer classified as a “specially designated global terrorist.” Al-Sharaa’s past has drawn global attention. Once the leader of al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, he broke away from the group in 2016. Since coming to power, he has attempted to reshape his public image, even abandoning his former alias, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, and adopting his birth name. He has repeatedly promoted a message of tolerance, unity, and national rebuilding. Earlier this year, al-Sharaa addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time. He told world leaders that Syria is “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world” and expressed interest in strengthening economic relations with the U.S. and the European Union.

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