Thursday, September 23, 2026 - Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sharply criticized Israeli military operations in Syria, using his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York to demand an Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory.
Al-Sharaa said Israel had carried out more than 500 air and artillery strikes, over 1,200 incursions and nearly 300 detentions since his government came to power, figures he presented as evidence of continuing pressure on Syria.
Al-Sharaa also reaffirmed Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights and called for the implementation of the 1974 disengagement agreement between Syria and Israel.
He said Damascus wants its territory and sovereignty respected while warning that continued Israeli military activity threatens Syria’s efforts to move from conflict toward reconstruction and economic recovery.
Despite the confrontation, Al-Sharaa left the door open to diplomacy, saying peace and security remain possible if the rights of both sides are respected. His remarks come as Syria and Israel continue US-mediated discussions over security arrangements, including Israeli military positions in southern Syria.
The competing demands now place diplomacy under renewed pressure as Damascus seeks stability and reconstruction while Israel maintains that its military presence is necessary for security.
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