Canada eases Syria sanctions, delists Central Bank of Syria and state firms

OTTAWA, February 18, 2026 — Canada amended its Syria sanctions on Feb. 18, lifting broad economic prohibitions linked to the former Assad regime and easing restrictions on imports, exports, investment, and financial and other services. The changes also cover services tied to telecommunications monitoring and petroleum-related transactions.

The amendments remove 24 entities and one individual from the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations, a step Canada said is intended to reduce barriers to economic activity and enable transactions with state-affiliated entities in sectors critical to Syria’s recovery. With the amendments now in force, a general permit issued in February 2025 to temporarily ease some restrictions will no longer be renewed when it expires on Feb. 23, 2026.

At the same time, Canada added two new listing criteria under the Syria Regulations for individuals and entities involved in gross and systematic human rights violations, or in undermining Syria’s peace, security and stability. Under those criteria, six individuals were newly listed.

According to Global Affairs Canada, four of the six were designated over their involvement in the March 2025 wave of sectarian violence in Syria. The other two were listed because they were responsible for financing the Assad regime’s chemical and ballistic missile weapons programs.

The six newly listed individuals are Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, Mohammad al-Jassim, Ghaith Suleiman Dalla, Miqdad Fatiha, Mudalal Khoury and Imad Khoury. Canada also removed 24 entities, including the Central Bank of Syria, Commercial Bank of Syria, Syrian Petroleum Company and Syrian Arab Airlines, as well as one individual, Dr. Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar. A duplicate listing for Muahmamd Al-Shaar was also delisted.

Global Affairs Canada said sanctions remain in place against individuals and entities closely associated with the former Assad regime that were listed between 2011 and 2017.