Canada has officially removed Syria from its list of states that support terrorism and revoked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a terrorist organisation, aligning its position with several Western allies that have eased restrictions on Damascus.

The decision follows the dramatic political shift in Syria last December, when HTS removed former president Bashar al-Assad and assumed control of the government. Ottawa’s foreign ministry said the move was approached carefully and reflects a broader international reassessment of Syria’s new leadership.

According to the ministry, the updated stance is consistent with recent policy changes by the United Kingdom and the United States, and acknowledges efforts by Syria’s transitional government to stabilise the country. Canada first labelled Syria as a terrorism-supporting state in 2012 after Assad’s crackdown on early pro-democracy protests pushed the nation into civil conflict.

HTS had long faced sanctions due to its historic links to Al-Qaeda. However, with several Western governments now engaging more directly with Syria’s new administration, many have rolled back restrictions to facilitate cooperation with the country’s current president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant who has since attempted to rebrand his leadership.

Since assuming power, the transitional authorities have made efforts to distance themselves from previous violent chapters and present a more moderate and governance-focused image to both citizens and the global community.

Despite the delisting, Canada said it will maintain sanctions on 56 Syrian individuals, including former members of the Assad government and figures closely linked to the ousted regime. The foreign ministry emphasised that accountability and human rights remain central to its policy toward Syria.