Not long ago, Ahmed al-Sharaa—better known by his alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani—would have been arrested upon arriving in the United States. As the former leader of Syria’s al-Nusra Front, he had a $10 million bounty on his head for organizing multiple terrorist attacks across Syria, often targeting civilians.
But this week, after toppling dictator Bashar al-Assad in a swift offensive last December, he is being celebrated in New York. He is meeting with world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly—the first Syrian head of state to do so since 1967.
“For many years we suffered injustice, deprivation, and oppression,” Sharaa said in his address, dressed in a tailored gray suit and burgundy tie. “Then we rose up to claim our dignity.”
He faces a difficult task at the UN: to present himself as a statesman who can ease concerns about his past, calm fears of sectarian violence, and handle delicate diplomacy with the U.S. and Israel—all while keeping the hardline reputation at home that brought him to power.
The former militant’s arrival has created surreal scenes in New York. On Tuesday evening, one of the city’s most sought-after invitations was to a private members’ club in midtown Manhattan, where Sharaa spoke about his journey from jihadist to statesman in a “fireside chat” hosted by the Middle East Institute.
He has a rehearsed response to doubts about his transformation: critics should not judge his past—including his time with al-Qaida—without considering the context he lived in. “Anyone who sees a child killed in the streets will revolt,” he said through a live Arabic translation. “The pressure led people to seek solutions with the means they had.”
A day earlier, he met with David Petraeus, the former CIA director and U.S. general who led multinational forces in Iraq while Sharaa was fighting and imprisoned there with other al-Qaida members.
“It is good that we were once in combat, and now we are in dialogue,” Sharaa said, smiling at his former enemy. “Someone who has been through war understands the importance of peace best.”
Privately, Trump administration officials acknowledge that the U.S. has no alternative to Sharaa’s leadership in Syria. They see him as the best hope for preventing a return to civil war. While urging him to moderate his statements about Israel and crack down on sectarian violence at home, they also worry about alienating him from his base and local allies.
“He is jumping through hoops to show he can be a world leader, not just a fighter,” said one U.S. official who has met with Sharaa. “Everything is carefully calibrated… So far, he’s pulling it off.”
At one point, Petraeus turned almost tenderly to the former leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham—which was only removed from the U.S. terrorist list in July—and asked a more personal question: “How are you holding up under all this pressure? Are you getting time to think? Are you sleeping enough? I’ve been there, and it’s very hard. Your many fans—and I am one—we worry.” The room at the Concordia Center broke into applause.
In public appearances, Sharaa has said there is a chance for peace with Israel, but he also stated that Syria is “scared” of Israel’s foreign policy in the region. He rejected the idea of Syria joining the Abraham Accords to normalize relations, citing public anger over Israeli airstrikes in Syria and the war in Gaza.
Another key goal for Sharaa during his visit to New York is to…This week in New York, Syria’s foreign minister is urging the United States to lift sanctions on his country. Although former President Donald Trump ended some sanctions in June, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 would require an act of Congress to repeal—something that may not happen soon.
Before a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, the minister, Faisal Mekdad, responded to a question about removing sanctions by gesturing toward the U.S. Secretary of State, as if to say, “It’s not my decision—it’s his.”
“The Syrian people should not be punished again through sanctions,” Mekdad said this week. “The Syrian people want to work. Lift the sanctions, and don’t worry about them.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the topic From alQaida to the Upper East Side Syrias new leader steps onto the global stage
FAQs Syrias New Leader on the Global Stage
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is Syrias new leader
The new leader is President Bashar alAssad He has been in power since 2000 but after years of civil war and international isolation he is now being reaccepted by some countries which is why hes described as new on the global stage
2 What does From alQaida to the Upper East Side mean
Its a phrase highlighting a dramatic shift AlQaida refers to the terrorist groups Syria fought during its civil war The Upper East Side is an affluent neighborhood in New York City symbolizing his return to highlevel diplomacy like attending the UN General Assembly
3 Why is this a big deal now
For over a decade Bashar alAssad was a pariah due to the war and human rights abuses His recent diplomatic outreach to Arab nations and invitations to international forums signal a major shift in how some world powers are dealing with him
4 What country is this about
This is about Syria a country in the Middle East
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 Why was Syrias leader isolated for so long
Many Western and Arab nations condemned Assads government for its brutal crackdown on prodemocracy protesters in 2011 which ignited the civil war and for alleged war crimes including chemical weapons attacks against civilians
6 Which countries are now welcoming him back
Several Arab nations led by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have reestablished diplomatic ties and invited him to regional summits This is often driven by regional security concerns and a desire to counter Iranian and Turkish influence
7 What are the main arguments FOR reengaging with Assad
Proponents argue that its a realist approach to end the war stabilize the region address the refugee crisis and combat the remnants of terrorist groups like ISIS They believe isolation failed and engagement is the only practical path forward
8 What are the main arguments AGAINST normalizing relations
Critics argue that
