Ottawa (TDI): Canada announced on Friday that it has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and revoked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a “terrorist entity,” aligning its policy with recent moves by the United States and other allies.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry said the decisions were “not taken lightly” and reflect ongoing efforts by the Syrian transitional government to stabilise the country.
“These steps are in line with recent actions by the United Kingdom and the United States, and follow initiatives by Syria’s new leadership to advance stability,” the statement read.
Syria had been labelled a state sponsor of terrorism in 2012, following the Assad regime’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests that plunged the nation into civil war.
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HTS, previously sanctioned for its links to Al-Qaeda, has also been delisted by several Western countries to facilitate cooperation with Syria’s new administration under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Since assuming power last December, the new Syrian leadership has sought to distance itself from the country’s violent past and project a more moderate image to both domestic audiences and international partners.
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Canada stressed, however, that sanctions remain in place for 56 individuals, including former Assad officials and members of the Assad family, maintaining pressure on those associated with the previous regime.
