Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara Condemns Israeli Strikes at UN General Assembly

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara on Wednesday accused Israel of carrying out hundreds of air strikes and incursions on Syrian territory, warning that these actions are undermining his country's recovery. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Al Shara reported that Syria has faced 500 air strikes, more than 1,200 incursions, and 300 detentions, which he described as a severe threat to regional peace and security.

Israeli troops entered a UN-patrolled buffer zone following the collapse of Bashar Al Assad's government in Damascus in December 2024. While Israel described the move as a temporary measure to secure its border, it has since executed numerous strikes on Syrian military infrastructure and expanded its positions within the country. Both the Syrian government and the UN maintain that this deployment violates Syrian sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement agreement established after the 1973 Middle East war.

During his address, Mr Al Shara reaffirmed Syria's commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement and demanded that Israeli forces withdraw to their pre-2024 lines. He emphasized that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory and rejected any attempts to impose a fait accompli on the nation. Calling for a just peace that preserves the rights of all parties, he urged the international community to support stability in the region.

Highlighting Syria's post-war recovery following 13 years of civil war, Mr Al Shara noted that Damascus has successfully ended the bloodshed, restored state institutions, and brought weapons under government control. He pointed to lifted sanctions, increased agricultural output, renewed production, and intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, organized crime, and human smuggling. Additionally, over 3.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons have returned, supported by the new “Syria without refugee camps” initiative, while schools and universities are actively being rebuilt.

Mr Al Shara also highlighted Syria's restored diplomatic relations, noting that over 100 states have communicated with Damascus and more than 60 diplomatic missions are now operating in the capital. Syria is also cooperating with international organizations such as the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Atomic Energy Agency. With the repeal of US sanctions, its removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, and broader engagement with the European Union, Mr Al Shara concluded by pledging that Syria will continue its rebuilding efforts toward strategic international partnerships.