LONDON: Israel’s attacks against Syria threaten to unleash “new crises” in the region, President Ahmad Al-Sharaa told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. Al-Sharaa, who led opposition forces in a lightning offensive to overthrow Bashar Assad late last year, became the first Syrian leader to address the UNGA in nearly 60 years. He outlined the progress made since he came to power, and the many challenges still facing his country after more than a decade of civil war. Chief among those has been Israel’s airstrikes and military operations in Syria.

Ahmad al-Sharaa has sought to restore ties with Arab countries and the West since Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December.

The last Syrian president to address the UN General Assembly spoke at the gathering in 1967.