Sharaa says Israeli attacks on Syria at odds with 'joy' of global community towards his country

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa used his speech at the United Nations General Assembly to declare his country’s return to the international community and slam Israel's attacks as "at odds" with the international consensus on Damascus. “The world is joyed by our return but Israel is launching attacks against Syria,” he said, saying Israel had launched 500 air strikes, conducted more than 1,200 incursions and 300 detentions in the country. “This is at odds with the orientation we are seeing at a global level,” he said. “We reject their [Israeli] aggressions”. In a blistering UN speech on Tuesday, Jordan's King Abdullah II said that Israel's attacks on Syria prove it has territorial ambitions that extend beyond the occupied Palestinian territories. “Any attempts that violate our sovereignty, that violate international law, will be stopped. Golan will remain Syrian territories,” Sharaa said, condemning Israel’s illegal occupation of the territory and calling for a return to the 1974 agreement that created a UN buffer zone between the two states. Read more: Sharaa says Israeli attacks on Syria at odds with 'joy' of global community towards his country Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks at the United Nations General Assembly on 23 September 2026 in New York City (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP)