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For the first time since 1967, a Syrian head of state addressed the United Nations. Yesterday in New York, transitional president Ahmed Al-Sharaa hailed Syria's "return to the world community," breaking with nearly 60 years of diplomatic isolation. The event was celebrated in Damascus, where several hundred people watched his speech on a giant screen.

Coming from the ranks of Islamist rebels, Al-Sharaa recalled the fall of Bashar Al-Assad in December 2024, presented as the culmination of the sacrifices made by the Syrian people after 14 years of war. Former leader of the Al-Nusra Front, which became Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, he gradually established himself as a figure of the transition. This summer, Washington lifted the terrorist designation on his movement, facilitating its international recognition. His presence at the UN marked a further step forward, especially as the United States lifted visa restrictions on Syria.

In New York, Al-Sharaa held a series of meetings. He met with Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, and even Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he announced the resumption of diplomatic relations. The Ukrainian leader called for the lifting of international sanctions against Damascus, a key objective of the new Syrian government. While some restrictions have already been eased, the complete repeal of US sanctions remains pending a vote in Congress.

From the podium, he denounced Israeli strikes on his territory, while confirming direct negotiations with Israel to reestablish a disengagement agreement on the southern Syrian buffer zone. The status of the Golan Heights, occupied since 1967, remains outside the discussions. Al-Sharaa also sent a message of support to the people of Gaza.

On the domestic front, he acknowledged the inter-religious violence targeting the Druze and Alawite minorities and promised transparent investigations under UN supervision. Despite the return of one million refugees since the end of the Assad regime, 7 million remain displaced within the country and more than 4.5 million still live abroad. Le Monde

IN SHORT

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🇩🇪 Germany • Berlin has announced a €35 billion investment by 2030 to strengthen its military space capabilities in the face of Russian and Chinese threats. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned of the risks of sabotage or destruction of satellites, citing jamming attacks already suffered by the German army.

🇨🇩 DRC - 🇷🇼 Rwanda • Kinshasa and Kigali have set October 1 as the date for the launch of operations to neutralize the FDLR (Rwandan Hutu rebels in the DRC) and lift Rwanda's "defensive" measures, according to an agreement negotiated in Washington with the United States, Qatar, and the African Union. This first phase will be limited to preparations (intelligence, coordination), without any concrete military action. Despite a ceasefire signed in June and discussions with the M23, violence continues in eastern Congo, where tensions have persisted for decades.

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇾🇪 Yemen • The Israeli Air Force carried out a wave of airstrikes on Sanaa today, targeting military and intelligence infrastructure belonging to Houthi rebels, in retaliation for a drone strike on Eilat yesterday that injured 20 people. The explosions rocked the Yemeni capital during a speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, with no immediate reaction from local authorities.

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