The Syrian government has been officially taken off the list of terrorism-sponsoring states by the federal authorities, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime almost a year ago. Syria was designated as a sponsor of terrorism back in 2012, during Assad’s rule amid a deadly conflict that commenced in March 2011, resulting in approximately 500,000 fatalities and the displacement of half of Syria’s pre-war population of 23 million.
Under the leadership of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Islamist insurgent commander, Syria’s new administration has been actively working towards reintegrating the nation into the global community. Additionally, Ottawa has delisted al-Sharaa’s faction, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a former affiliate of al-Qaeda, from Canada’s roster of terrorist organizations.
Global Affairs Canada issued a statement emphasizing that these decisions were made with utmost consideration for the safety and security of Canadians. The actions align with similar moves by other allied nations like the United Kingdom and the United States, in response to the efforts of the Syrian transitional government to enhance stability, foster inclusivity, ensure a secure future for its citizens, and collaborate with international partners on regional stability and counter-terrorism initiatives.
A delegation representing the United Nations Security Council’s 15 member states paid a visit to Syria recently. Speaking to reporters in Damascus, Samuel Zbogar, the permanent representative of Slovenia to the U.N. and the Security Council president, highlighted the delegation’s objective to establish trust and expressed hope for progress. The delegation engaged with key figures including al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, and other government officials. They also interacted with local UN personnel, Syrian civil society representatives, religious leaders, and communities impacted by sectarian conflicts earlier in the year in the coastal region and Sweida province in southern Syria.
In a notable move, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted al-Shaara at the White House following the lifting of sanctions against the interim president.