The Syrian government has been taken off the list of countries supporting terrorism by the U.S. government following the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad almost a year ago.
Syria was added to the list in 2012 during Assad’s rule, amid a conflict that started in March 2011 and led to the deaths of around 500,000 people, with half the country’s population of 23 million displaced.
The new Syrian administration, led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Islamist insurgent leader, is working to reintegrate the nation into the global community.
Similarly, Canada has delisted al-Sharaa’s faction, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which was previously linked to al-Qaeda, from its roster of terrorist organizations.
Global Affairs Canada stated that these decisions were made with the safety of Canadians as a top priority, aligning with moves by allied nations like the U.K. and the U.S. The actions also acknowledge Syria’s transitional government efforts to enhance stability, foster an inclusive and secure future for its citizens, and collaborate with global partners to bolster regional stability and combat terrorism.
A delegation representing the 15 member countries of the United Nations Security Council recently traveled to Syria. Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia’s U.N. permanent representative and Security Council president, mentioned that the delegation’s objective was to establish trust and expressed hope for progress.
During the visit, the delegation engaged with al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, and other government officials. They also met with local UN personnel, Syrian civil society members, religious leaders, and communities impacted by sectarian conflicts earlier this year.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump received al-Shaara at the White House following the lifting of sanctions on the interim Syrian leader.
