Ahmad al-Sharaa tells UN Israel must leave southern Syria and Golan

24-Sep-2026

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Syria's interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa used his speech at the UN General Assembly to sharply criticise Israel's occupation of southern Syria and to reiterate that the Golan Heights is an inseparable part of Syria. He said Israel had stepped up military action in Syria since he took power and rejected any attempt to alter the territory's status.

Al-Sharaa also said Syria remained committed to the 1974 agreement that created a demilitarised separation zone between Israeli and Syrian forces and called on Israeli troops to pull back to the lines of Dec. 8, 2024. He said that was the day insurgents led by him removed Bashar Assad from power and Israel began sending in forces.