The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is amending sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations (Syria Regulations).
The amendments lift broad economic prohibitions that were linked to the former Assad regime that had been in place since May 2011. These changes include easing restrictions related to the import and export of goods, investment activities and the provision of financial and other services, including those linked to telecommunications monitoring and petroleum-related transactions.
On February 18, 2026, Canada removed 24 entities and one individual from the Syria Regulations to ease barriers to economic activity and enable transactions with state‑affiliated entities in sectors vital to Syria’s recovery. Canada also introduced two new listing criteria to allow the designation of those involved in gross and systematic human rights violations or in undermining Syria’s peace, security and stability. Under these new criteria, six individuals have been listed.
New sanctions have been imposed on six individuals responsible for gross and systematic human rights violations in Syria and/or activities undermining the peace, security or stability of Syria. Four of the newly sanctioned individuals are being listed because of their involvement in the March 2025 wave of sectarian violence in Syria. The remaining two individuals are being listed because they were responsible for the financing of the Assad regime’s chemical and ballistic missile weapons programs. Sanctions will also remain in place against individuals and entities closely associated with the former Assad regime who were listed between 2011 and 2017.
Individuals listed
The following individuals are listed for engaging or having engaged in gross and systemic human rights violations in Syria and/or activities undermining the peace, security or stability of Syria.
1. Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, former leader of an armed group, the Hamza Division
2. Mohammad al-Jassim (also known as Abu Amsha and Al-Amshat), former leader of an armed group, the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade
3. Ghaith Suleiman Dalla (also known as Ghiath), former brigadier general of the Syrian Arab Army and commander of the al-Ghaith Forces of the 42nd Brigade and former leader of a pro-Assad regime armed group
4. Miqdad Fatiha, former officer in the Republican Guard of the Syrian Arab Army and current leader of a pro-Assad regime armed group, the Coastal Shield Brigade (Dara’ al-Sahel)
5. Mudalal Khoury, Syrian-Russian businessman and financier of the Assad regime
6. Imad Khoury, Syrian-Russian businessman and financier of the Assad regime
Individuals delisted
The following individuals have been delisted from the Syria Regulations:
1. Dr. Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar
2. Muahmamd Al-Shaar. This individual is a duplicate listing of Dr. Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar.
Entities delisted
The following entities have been delisted from the Syria Regulations:
- Commercial Bank of Syria
- Real Estate Bank
- Industrial Bank
- Popular Credit Bank
- Saving Bank
- Agricultural Cooperative Bank
- Central Bank of Syria
- Syrian International Islamic Bank
- Al Furat Petroleum Company
- Syria Trading Oil Company
- Dier ez-Zor Petroleum Company
- Ebla Petroleum Company
- Dijla Petroleum Company
- Syrian Petroleum Company
- Mahrukat Company (also known as the Syrian Company for the Storage and Distribution of Petroleum Products)
- General Organization of Tobacco
- Cotton Marketing Organization
- Addounia TV
- Al Watan
- Cham Press TV
- General Organization of Radio and TV (also known as GORT)
- Syriatel
- El-Tel
- Syrian Arab Airlines (also known as Syrian Air)
Please visit these links for more information: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2026/02/minister-anand-announces-amendments-to-sanctions-related-to-syria.html
Backgrounder: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2026/02/backgrounder-amendments-to-sanctions-related-to-syria.html