President al-Sharaa is first Syrian leader to visit UNGA in six decades

"Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa has arrived in New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), becoming the first Syrian head of state to attend the annual gathering in almost six decades. The last Syrian leader to attend the UNGA was President Nureddin al-Atassi, who ruled before the al-Assad family came to power in 1971 and maintained its rule until al-Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad's government in December."

"Al-Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday, leading a large delegation of Syrian officials, in what state media described as a landmark trip. The symbolism of the visit was also significant because it is the latest milestone in the normalisation of al-Sharaa and his government, who seized power in the country in a lightning offensive after spending more than a decade as a rebel fighter in northern Syria."

"Al-Sharaa had a meeting with United States President Donald Trump in May, the first such encounter between a Syrian president and a US president in 25 years, at a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the meeting, Trump said the US would drop all sanctions on Syria, which he subsequently did, and added that Washington was exploring normalising relations with Syria's new government."

Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in New York for the 80th UN General Assembly as the first Syrian head of state to attend in almost six decades. The last Syrian leader to attend was Nureddin al-Atassi, who ruled before the al-Assad family came to power; al-Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad's government in December. Al-Sharaa led a large delegation and state media called the visit a landmark. He seized power after a lightning offensive following more than a decade as a rebel fighter. He met US President Donald Trump in May; the US dropped sanctions and explored normalising relations. His government faces internal strife, violence in Suwayda, and repeated Israeli attacks and incursions.

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