Ahmed Al-Sharaa will be first Syrian President to address UNGA after nearly 60 years

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), marking the first appearance by a Syrian head of state at the annual gathering in nearly six decades.

The last Syrian leader to participate was President Nureddin al-Atassi, who served prior to the rise of the Al-Assad family in 1971.

Sharaa, who ousted Bashar Al-Assad’s government in December, traveled with a sizable delegation of Syrian officials in what state media described as a “landmark trip.”

Observers note that the visit symbolizes the gradual international acceptance of Sharaa’s government.

Earlier this year, Sharaa met US President Donald Trump at a Gulf Cooperation Council summit alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That meeting was the first between a Syrian and US president in 25 years. Following the encounter, Trump lifted all sanctions on Syria and indicated that Washington was “exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government.”

Al-Sharaa’s administration continues to face significant challenges, including outbreaks of violence in southern Suwayda in June, ongoing 'Israeli' military strikes, and cross-border incursions despite diplomatic talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv. Syria has accused 'Israel' of breaching the 1974 Disengagement Agreement by establishing military and intelligence installations in demilitarized zones to pursue “expansionist and partition plans.”