New York — Syria’s revolutionary president Ahmed al-Shara’a arrived in New York on Monday to participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA),marking the first Syrian head of state to attend in 58 years since Nur-ad Din al-Atasi’s appearance in 1967, shortly after the Arab defeat in the Six-Day War.

Al-Shara’a seized power in December 2024 after a lightning offensive by his rebel group toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, ending Syria’s 14-year civil war and more than five decades of Assad family dominance.

From Rebel Commander to President

The 42-year-old leader, once commander of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has undergone a dramatic transformation since assuming office. HTS, previously designated a terrorist group by the United States due to its ties with al-Qaeda, rebranded during the conflict.

Since taking power, al-Shara’a has sought to restore Syria’s fractured relations with Arab states and Western powers. His early diplomatic engagements included meetings with the United States President Donald Trump in Riyadh and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

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Syria’s Rebuilding

In a pre-recorded interview aired by Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), a news division of the American television and radio broadcaster, on Sunday, al-Shara’a praised Trump for lifting most U.S. sanctions on Syria earlier this year. “President Trump took a big step towards Syria by lifting the sanctions with a quick, courageous and historic decision,” he said.

“He recognised that Syria should be safe, stable and unified,” al-Shara’a added, warning that those seeking to maintain sanctions would be “complicit in killing the Syrian people once again.”

During his US visit, al-Shara’a also met with members of the Syrian diaspora in the US, according to the Syrian Presidency’s official account on X. The gathering focused on strengthening ties with expatriates and addressing concerns about Syria’s reconstruction and political future.

Al-Shara’a emphasised “the importance of their role in conveying the true image of the Syrian Arab Republic” and expressed gratitude for their efforts in “serving their homeland.”

High-Level Delegation

The Syrian president is leading a high-level delegation that includes Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, Information Minister Dr. Hamza al-Mustafa, and Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi.

SANA reported that the delegation will hold a series of meetings with world leaders and senior UN officials on the sidelines of the General Assembly, focusing on Syria’s reintegration into the international community and securing support for post-war reconstruction.

Analysts say al-Shara’a’s appearance at UNGA underscores Syria’s bid to shed decades of isolation and reassert its place in global diplomacy. For Damascus, the visit is not only symbolic but a step towards international legitimacy after years of war and sanctions.