Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on Sunday left for New York to attend the UN General Assembly, marking the first participation by a Syrian head of state since 1967, international media reported, quoting the presidency.
Sharaa is scheduled to engage in multiple meetings and discussions with world leaders and delegations during the high-level session.
The visit comes as Damascus pushes for the full removal of US sanctions, which remain in place despite some recent relaxations. Most restrictions are linked to a 2019 US law that penalised the former Assad government over war crimes committed during the civil war.
Following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in late 2024, Syria’s new leadership has embarked on political and economic reforms, promoting social cohesion and strengthening ties with regional and global partners.
Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia last December, bringing an end to the Baath Party’s decades-long rule. A transitional administration under Sharaa took office in January.
