VIDEO: "Lessons of history": al-Sharaa describes Syria's story during his speech in UN

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made a historic return to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, delivering Syria’s first address to the UN in nearly six decades.

His speech, relatively brief but pointed, highlighted Syria’s tumultuous past, ongoing recovery, and regional stance.

Opening his remarks, al-Sharaa said, “the Syrian story is filled with emotions, and it mixes pain with hope,” framing the nation’s history as “a story of struggle between good and evil.”

Speaking about Damascus, “the capital of history and the cradle of civilizations,” as he said, al-Sharaa outlined six decades of repression and the country’s perceived unlikely victory last December. “For long years, we’ve suffered injustice and deprivation and oppression. Then, we rose in claiming our dignity,” he said.

He highlighted efforts to strengthen national unity, saying, “This unique Syrian achievement and the solidarity between our peoples have led us to try to uproot sectarianism and to fight against attempts to divide our country, once again.”

Al-Sharaa also detailed steps taken to restore governance, including establishing new laws and institutions, electing representatives, and engaging international companies. Amid these developments, he called for the removal of economic sanctions, stating, “We call now for the complete lifting of sanctions, so that they no longer shackle the Syrian people.”

Concluding his address, al-Sharaa reflected on Syria’s experience of conflict and expressed solidarity with those suffering elsewhere. “We are among the peoples most deeply aware of the horrors of war and destruction,” he said, adding, “For this reason, we stand firmly with the people of Gaza, its children and women and all peoples facing violations and aggression. We call for an immediate end to the war.”