At a political forum in New York City, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and retired U.S. General David Petraeus discussed al-Sharaa’s recent ascent to power after overthrowing former President Bashar al-Assad in a military offensive. Al-Sharaa, who was imprisoned by U.S. forces from 2006 to 2011 for opposing the Iraq invasion, has since transitioned from insurgent leader to head of state. He established the al-Nusra Front in 2012, which later merged into Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group previously designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.

This meeting is significant as al-Sharaa is the first Syrian president to attend the United Nations General Assembly in nearly 60 years. He held discussions with officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and participated in the Concordia Annual Summit alongside world leaders and business executives. During the forum, Petraeus praised al-Sharaa’s political transformation and expressed concern for his well-being. Al-Sharaa emphasized the importance of peace, acknowledged past mistakes, and highlighted a new governmental focus on economic development. He called for the revocation of U.S. sanctions, affirmed minority rights in Syria, and addressed ongoing security discussions with Israel aimed at stabilizing the region.



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