Syrian foreign minister thanks Canada for lifting terrorism designations

Syria’s foreign minister is publicly thanking the Canadian government after Ottawa removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and lifted its designation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.

Source: X

Syria’s foreign minister is publicly thanking the Canadian government after Ottawa removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and lifted its designation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), according to statements issued Friday.

Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani said on X that Damascus “extends our thanks and appreciation to the Government of Canada for its positive steps” in delisting Syria and lifting the classification of HTS. Al-Shaibani said the move recognizes recent political developments following what Syrian authorities describe as the “Victory Conference,” during which remaining armed factions, including HTS, were formally dissolved.

Al-Shaibani, who previously belonged to Jabhat al-Nusra—the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria that later evolved into HTS—said Canada’s decisions were valued by Damascus “in their current path toward stability and reconstruction.”

The remarks followed a formal statement from Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Friday, which welcomed Ottawa’s reversal of sanctions and terrorism listings imposed in earlier years.

The ministry called the Canadian decision a “positive and constructive development,” saying it acknowledged the impact sanctions have had on Syrians and the country’s key sectors.

In its statement, the Syrian government said Canada’s actions would mark “an important milestone in advancing Syrian–Canadian relations” and could open a new phase of cooperation. It said Damascus is ready to work with international partners on economic recovery and reconstruction “in a manner that serves the shared interests of regional and international security and stability.”

The Canadian government has not yet issued a detailed public explanation of the policy shift.

Until recently, Canada had aligned with several Western states in maintaining sanctions and designations against the Syrian government and HTS, the latter having been listed as a terrorist organization by Ottawa since 2012.

HTS took control of Syria once the Assad government completely collapsed nearly one year ago on December 8th, 2024, after a two-week offensive launched in the country’s north-west rebel stronghold of Idlib, which once served as a safe haven for ISIS and Al-Qaeda in the region.