For the first time in nearly six decades, Syria’s president took center stage at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, marking an extraordinary moment in the nation’s tumultuous history. On September 24, 2025, President Ahmad al-Sharaa stood before world leaders, declaring Syria’s return to the international community after decades of dictatorship and civil war. The speech, delivered during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, was watched live by hundreds in Syrian cities and towns, many waving the country’s flag in celebration, according to NPR.
Al-Sharaa’s address was more than ceremonial—it was a declaration of a new era. “Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world,” he told the assembly, as reported by France24. He became the first Syrian head of state to speak at the United Nations since Noureddine Attasi’s appearance in 1967, shortly after Syria’s defeat in the Arab-Israeli war. That conflict saw Damascus lose control of the Golan Heights, a region Israel later annexed in 1981.
The president’s speech was laced with references to the country’s dark recent past. He did not shy away from acknowledging the horrors inflicted under the Assad family's 54-year rule—a period he described as a dictatorship that killed 1 million people and tortured hundreds of thousands. The Assad dynasty’s grip on Syria ended abruptly in December 2024, when Bashar Assad was ousted in a rapid insurgent offensive led by al-Sharaa himself. The fall of Assad brought an end to nearly 14 years of civil war, opening the door for sweeping changes.
Al-Sharaa’s rise to power was dramatic. Just a year earlier, he had been the leader of a rebel group in northwest Syria. By late 2024, he led a lightning military campaign that toppled the Assad regime in Damascus. In his speech, al-Sharaa outlined his government’s vision for Syria’s future. “From the very moment the former regime fell, we set out a clear strategic policy built upon three pillars—balanced diplomacy, security and stability, and economic development,” he said, as reported by the United Nations News.
The new Syrian leadership, according to al-Sharaa, has moved quickly to implement reforms. Commissions have been created to pursue transitional justice and investigate the fate of missing persons. Work is underway to elect a legislative council, and both civil and military institutions have been restructured, with previous bureaucracy dissolved. A “government of competence” has been established to strengthen participation, and international relations have been fully restored, with new regional and global partnerships forming. The partial lifting of sanctions has already allowed major regional and international companies to begin investing in Syria’s reconstruction efforts.
Yet, al-Sharaa was adamant that all sanctions must be lifted for Syria to truly recover. “We call for lifting them completely so that they are not a tool to shackle the Syrian people,” he urged, echoing sentiments he shared with reporters after his speech. He noted that former U.S. President Trump had met with him in Saudi Arabia in May and announced the lifting of decades-old sanctions imposed under Assad. While many restrictions have been waived, the most stringent sanctions—those imposed by Congress under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act—remain, requiring legislative approval for permanent removal. Al-Sharaa expressed optimism, stating, “the majority of Congress members are for lifting the Congress under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.”
The president’s call for renewal extended beyond economic matters. He pledged accountability for the violence that has scarred Syria, promising to bring to justice “anyone whose hands are tainted with the blood of Syrian people.” According to NPR, fact-finding missions have been formed, and the United Nations has been granted the right to investigate killings that occurred in 2025. Al-Sharaa said, “I guarantee to bring to justice everyone accountable and responsible for bloodshed.”
Al-Sharaa also addressed the ongoing threat of sectarian violence, which has left hundreds dead in southern Syria and the coastal region earlier this year. Gunmen affiliated with the new government have been accused of atrocities against civilians from the Druze and Alawite minorities, particularly in Sweida province. The president, in his speech, sought to reassure Syria’s minority communities, emphasizing coexistence and inclusivity. He acknowledged the pain of war and destruction, stating, “Syria does not wish the pain it passed through for anyone. We are among the most people who feel the suffering of war and destruction. Therefore we support the people of Gaza.”
Another theme of the address was Syria’s fight against the illegal drug trade. The new authorities, al-Sharaa said, have destroyed the Captagon drug manufacturing facilities that were used by the previous regime to fund its government under harsh Western sanctions. These factories, uncovered after Assad’s fall, were part of a $10 billion global trade in the amphetamine-like stimulant. Over the past several months, Syrian authorities have closed Captagon factories across the country as part of a campaign to end the illegal trade.
Al-Sharaa’s speech was not without controversy or opposition. In New York, the Syrian diaspora was divided, with dueling demonstrations at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza. Pro-government supporters waved the three-starred “revolution flag,” now the official flag of Syria, celebrating the new leadership. Others, including members of the Druze community, protested al-Sharaa’s visit. Farah Taki, a protester originally from Sweida, told NPR, “It’s disgrace that New York is welcoming an ex-Qaida member at the U.N., and allowing him even to speak.” The insurgent group al-Sharaa once led was affiliated with al-Qaida before later severing ties. On the other side, supporters like Dina Keenawari, a Syrian American from Florida, expressed hope: “We’ve lived under tyranny for the past 50 years, and now we’re turning a new chapter and we’re looking forward. And we’re proud of him.”
Al-Sharaa also turned his attention to regional security, sharply criticizing Israel for ongoing threats and military strikes on Syrian territory since Assad’s fall. He argued that Israel’s policies “contradict with the international community’s support to Syria and its people,” warning that such actions endanger the region and could spark uncontrollable conflict. Negotiations are underway for a security deal aimed at Israeli withdrawal and a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement. While al-Sharaa expressed hope for a breakthrough “in a matter of days,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed the chances, insisting that Israel’s interests—including the demilitarization of southwestern Syria and the safety of the Druze—must be secured.
Despite the challenges, al-Sharaa struck a note of optimism and resolve. “In continuation of the Syrian story, I declare before you today the triumph of truth over falsehood,” he told UN delegates. “Truth has come, and falsehood has perished. Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world.”
As Syria stands at the crossroads of renewal and reckoning, the world is watching closely. The road ahead remains fraught with uncertainty, but the echoes of al-Sharaa’s historic speech signal a nation determined to turn the page—and perhaps, at last, to begin healing.