New Syrian Leader Warns on Israeli Attacks During UN Charm Offensive

Syria’s newly installed leader Ahmed al-Sharaa warned on Wednesday that Israel’s ongoing attacks put both his country and the wider region at risk, during a landmark visit to the United Nations in which he sought to present himself as a moderate statesman.

Sharaa, formerly associated with Al-Qaeda and until last year carrying a US bounty, is the first Syrian president in decades to address the UN’s annual high-level diplomacy week. Sporting a neat Western suit and tie, he portrayed Syria as having moved beyond decades of Assad-family rule.

“Syria has transformed from an exporter of crisis to an opportunity for peace,” Sharaa said.

However, he warned that Israeli airstrikes and attacks continued to threaten the new Syria’s prospects.

“I guarantee to bring to justice and hold everyone accountable who was responsible for the bloodshed,” he declared.
“In this context, Israeli strikes and attacks against my country continue, contradicting international support for Syria and threatening new crises.”

Sharaa reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, following the ceasefire that ended hostilities in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

“In the face of this aggression, Syria is committed to dialogue, and we call on the international community to stand beside us,” he said.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office responded by stating that any agreement with Syria would be contingent on Israel’s security interests, including the demilitarisation of southwestern Syria and the protection of the Druze community, which has a strong presence in Israel.

Israel’s aggressive regional posture followed the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which remain the deadliest day in Israeli history.

While the United States generally backs Israel, President Donald Trump has broken with tradition by embracing Sharaa. During a May visit to Riyadh, Trump agreed to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria and described the 42-year-old Sharaa as an “attractive, tough guy”.

Tom Barrack, US ambassador to Turkey and advocate for engagement with Sharaa, recounted at the Concordia summit that Trump made a swift decision after meeting him:

“The president said, ‘Well, what happened to Nelson Mandela? Wasn’t he a foreign terrorist for 27 years?’”

Barrack likened Sharaa’s transformation from jihadist leader to political figure to Mandela’s journey from imprisoned activist to statesman.

During numerous meetings in New York, Sharaa stressed his desire for a diplomatic solution with Israel, though he indicated it was too early to discuss formal recognition.

At the Concordia summit in Times Square, Sharaa was interviewed by David Petraeus, former US general in Iraq, who reminded him of the criticism faced over working with Sharaa’s former group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), recently delisted as a terrorist organisation by Washington.

“Frankly, what you have done since toppling the Bashar al-Assad regime has validated that stance,” Petraeus said.

Sharaa responded: “Sir, someone who has gone through war is one who knows the importance of peace.

Key Points

Sharaa’s visit represents a dramatic reinvention of his image, signalling a new Syrian diplomacy while keeping Israel and regional tensions at the forefront of international attention.