Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Warns That Israeli Strikes Threaten Post-War Reconstruction

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa has urged Israel to withdraw from internationally-recognised Syrian territory during an address at the United Nations General Assembly, stating that ongoing military actions are jeopardizing the nation's security and recovery following years of civil conflict.

Speaking at the UN, al-Sharaa condemned what he described as Israeli attempts to impose a fait accompli, citing hundreds of air strikes, incursions, and detentions that evoke an era he believed had passed.

Al-Sharaa, who assumed power in 2024 after toppling the regime of Bashar al-Assad, highlighted Syria's ongoing efforts to rebuild. He reported that bloodshed has ceased, state control over arms has been established, international sanctions have been lifted, and roughly 3.5 million refugees and displaced individuals have returned safely.

Addressing the international community, al-Sharaa called for adherence to the 1974 agreement establishing a UN-supervised separation zone and reiterated that the occupied Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory.