Syria’s new leadership, under Ahmed al-Sharaa, will address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday to outline a new path for the country, seeking international recognition and the lifting of sanctions.
Al-Sharaa to Make Historic UN Address
Ahmed al-Sharaa’s appearance marks the first participation by a Syrian president in high-level UN meetings since 1967. “This is a very big deal,” said Natasha Hall of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noting he will emphasize that “this is a new day for Syria.“
A high-ranking Syrian official confirmed the key topics for the Ahmed al-Sharaa UN speech. They include lifting sanctions that hinder recovery, combating terrorism, the return of refugees, and advancing “a genuinely inclusive political process rooted in the will of the Syrian people.“
US Backing and Diplomatic Outreach
The diplomatic push follows an endorsement from President Donald Trump, who described al-Sharaa as a “young, attractive, tough guy” after a meeting in Riyadh. Following the meeting, the U.S. announced it would lift Donald Trump Syria sanctions and begin discussions on normalizing relations.
Since taking power in December 2024, al-Sharaa has also hosted Western diplomats, including Ambassador Barbara Leaf. Her visit was the first by a high-ranking U.S. official since the civil war began in 2011, signaling a significant shift in engagement.
Concerns Linger Over Syria New Leadership
Despite these overtures, concerns remain about al-Sharaa’s past affiliations with al Qaeda and his “heavy hand” ruling Idlib before the fall of the Assad regime. “Al-Sharaa is not a democrat,” said Robert Ford, the last U.S. ambassador in Damascus, noting that “he has put loyalists in place” in key security, intelligence, and justice roles.
Ford added that while al-Sharaa’s rule has been lighter since taking Damascus, political freedom is greater than in some other regional countries. The new government has also taken action against terrorist groups, seizing a heavy ammunition shipment destined for Hezbollah one month after taking power.
From Military Commander to Politician
Ambassador Barbara Leaf observed a change in al-Sharaa during their December meeting. “I came to the sense that he was already making a shift from being a military commander to being a politician, to being a political leader,” she stated.
However, Leaf noted that Al-Sharaa Islamist governance concerns persist. “Does he want to formulate a kind of Islamist governance, conservative governance and social order that, frankly, Syria has not seen? And would he be willing to use force to get there?
That’s an unknown.”
Sectarian Violence and Internal Pressures
The new government faces significant challenges consolidating control amid a wave of sectarian violence. A massacre in Latakia killed around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, while clashes in Suweida between tribes, militias, and government forces resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Caroline Rose of The New Lines Institute stated that al-Sharaa is engaged in a “careful balancing act” between liberal opposition voices and more Islamist proponents. This tension is evident in his failure to rein in radical fighters during outbreaks and policies appeasing conservatives, “such as the ruling requiring full-body swimwear at Syrian pools and beaches.“
Syria Reconstruction and Reconciliation Efforts
After 13 years of civil war, Syria reconstruction and reconciliation is a monumental task, with estimated costs between $250 and $400 billion. The humanitarian crisis remains severe, with 16.7 million people, or 75% of the population, in need of assistance.
A critical challenge is incorporating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the state to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State. The threat remains active, as a suspected ISIS suicide bombing at a Greek Orthodox church in June killed 22 worshipers and injured 63.
