For the first time in nearly six decades, a Syrian president steps up to speak at the U.N.
NBC2 days
Syrian Leader Addresses UN for the First Time in Nearly 60 Years
Above: Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Syria's interim president, addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 24, 2025 Image copyright: David Dee Delgado/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
After a brutal 14-year civil war in which the previous Assad regime killed, displaced and tortured millions of Syrians, Al-Sharaa's presence at the U.N. General Assembly — the first of any Syrian leader in 60 years — marks a milestone turning point for the country in which it's able to leave behind the global isolation it faced.
Establishment-critical narrative
While Al-Sharaa may have ditched his military garb for a suit, questions remain about whether he can shed his terrorist past. While he may say the right things in front of the international community, the truth is he will have to play a delicate balancing game with them and the jihadists that brought him to power in the first place.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
The Controversies
Establishment split
CRITICAL
PRO
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.16.0
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.16.0