Ahmad al-Sharaa becomes first Syrian President to attend UN Assembly in nearly six decades

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday to participate in the UN General Assembly, marking the first time in almost 60 years that a Syrian head of state has attended the annual gathering.

The last such visit was in 1967, before the Assad family dynasty began its decades-long rule.

Al-Sharaa rose to power last December after ousting Bashar Assad in a rapid insurgent offensive.

Assad’s fall ended nearly 14 years of civil war and brought an end to five decades of family rule.

Since taking office, al-Sharaa has sought to rebuild relations with Arab states and Western governments, despite concerns about his past ties to al-Qaida. The rebel group he previously led, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was once designated a terrorist organisation by the United States.

The Syrian leader has emphasised coexistence and attempted to reassure the country’s minority groups. However, Syria’s fragile recovery has been undermined by outbreaks of sectarian violence. Fighters loyal to the new government have faced accusations of killing hundreds of civilians from the Druze and Alawite communities.

Al-Sharaa’s visit to New York is expected to focus heavily on sanctions relief.

The U.S. had imposed decades of restrictions under Assad’s rule, many of which were lifted or waived after U.S. President Donald Trump met al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May. However, the most severe measures, passed by Congress under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act in 2019, remain in place and require congressional approval for removal.

Relations with Israel are also expected to dominate discussions.

Since Assad’s ouster, Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military positions and seized a former UN-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria.

Negotiations are ongoing for a potential security agreement.

Al-Sharaa has expressed hope for a withdrawal of Israeli forces and a return to the 1974 disengagement accord, saying a deal could be reached “in a matter of days.” But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday downplayed expectations, stating, “There is some progress” but the deal is “still a vision for the future.”

Meanwhile, Syria is preparing for its first parliamentary elections since Assad’s fall. The vote is scheduled for October 5, but members of the People’s Assembly will not be chosen through a direct popular vote. Instead, an electoral college system will fill two-thirds of the seats, while al-Sharaa will directly appoint the remaining one-third.

Election officials said direct voting was not feasible at this stage, citing the loss of personal documentation among many citizens and the large number of Syrians still displaced as refugees following the long civil war.

Al-Sharaa’s UN appearance, alongside these developments, marks a significant moment in Syria’s re-entry into international diplomacy after years of conflict and isolation.