Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in New York to attend meetings of the UN General Assembly, the first participation of a Syrian president since 1967, the state news agency reported early on Monday.
Sharaa – a former al Qaeda leader who once had a $10 million bounty on his head – scored a major diplomatic victory in May when he won recognition from US President Donald Trump at a meeting in Riyadh.
The US subsequently lifted most sanctions on Syria and the Trump administration has voiced its support for Sharaa's efforts to unify and stabilize the country.
Sharaa is expected to deliver his first address at the General Assembly, which opens its 80th session on Tuesday.
Preparations are also underway for a bilateral meeting between al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly, the sources said—a session drawing close attention for what it may signal about the future of ties between Damascus and Washington.
Israel and Syria were on the brink of reaching a security agreement
Sharaa and other senior officials conveyed a message to senior members of the American administration, as well as other figures with whom they had recently met, affirming that Israel and Syria were on the brink of reaching a security agreement.
“We are on the verge of a security agreement between Israel and Syria,” the Syrian leaders said.
The Syrian president publicly declared in recent days that there could soon be results from the ongoing security talks with Israel.
“Following this agreement, additional accords could be reached. However, peace and normalization with Israel are not currently on the agenda,” Sharaa added.
Syrian officials told the US administration that a deal could be based on the 1974 disengagement agreement signed after the Yom Kippur War. It would include guarantees for the security of Syria’s Druze community.
The Media line and Amichai Stein contributed to this article.