The fall of the Assad regime has ushered in a new "historic phase" for the region, President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Monday, as he noted that Syria has "converging interests" with Western powers and the U.S.
Speaking at a session titled "East Stage: Democracy, Security & Geopolitical Risk" with former CIA Director David Petraeus at the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit in New York, Sharaa warned that some parties are trying "to stir sectarian tensions in Syria, while others are settling their scores on Syrian soil."
Al-Sharaa is the first Syrian president to participate in the U.N. General Assembly since 1967.
"Peaceful solutions must be reached and implemented swiftly, especially in the agreement with SDF on March 10," he said.
"Restricting weapons to the hands of the state is what protects Syria from conflicts and unrest," Sharaa said.
