New York: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has arrived in the United States to participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), marking Syria’s first appearance at the global platform in 58 years. The last time a Syrian head of state attended UNGA was in 1967, when then-President Nour al-Din al-Atassi represented the country. This year’s session is scheduled to run from September 23 to 29, 2025.
Al-Sharaa assumed the role of interim president following a coup in December last year. Since then, his government has been working to improve diplomatic ties with the United States and other Western nations.
In May 2025, President al-Sharaa met US President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia, the first meeting between a Syrian and American president in 25 years. Following the discussions, Trump ordered the removal of several sanctions imposed on Syria, including restrictions on oil, gas, banking, and military transactions. These sanctions were originally enforced to weaken the Assad regime.
Meanwhile, tensions between Syria and Israel remain high. After Assad’s fall, Israel intensified its airstrikes on Syrian territory and expanded its control over the UN-monitored Golan Heights buffer zone.
At the UNGA, Al-Sharaa is expected to highlight Syria’s willingness to improve relations with Israel. He has expressed interest in reviving the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which established a UN-monitored buffer zone between the two countries. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the proposal, calling it a matter for the future.
Disengagement Agreement (1974):
The agreement between Israel and Syria was signed on May 31, 1974. It led to the creation of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and established a buffer zone to prevent military escalation along the borders.
