Syrian President Declares Golan "Syrian Territory" at UN

In a sharp address to the UN General Assembly, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attacked Israeli military activity on Syrian soil, presented detailed statistics on the scope of strikes and incursions, and demanded an Israeli withdrawal to the lines of December 2024. Alongside the harsh accusations, however, the Syrian leader made clear that "a historic opportunity for peace still exists for those who wish to live in peace."

Al-Sharaa used the General Assembly platform to deliver pointed messages toward Israel, addressing the status of the Golan Heights and the extent of military operations against his country.

"No Attempt to Impose Facts Can Harm Our Sovereignty"

Opening his remarks, the Syrian president addressed the Golan Heights issue and made clear his country does not recognize the Israeli presence in the area. "No attempt to impose facts on the ground can harm the legitimacy of our state, the sovereignty of our law, and the validity of international law," he declared. "The Golan will remain Syrian territory, and all annexation measures are null and void under Security Council Resolution 497."

He issued a clear call to the international community: "Our demand from our partners is simple, say what international law says."

The military indictment al-Sharaa presented included detailed figures: according to him, Israel has struck Syria in approximately 500 air and artillery attacks, carried out more than 1,200 incursions into Syrian territory, and detained close to 300 Syrian civilians.

Israeli forces operating in Syrian territory (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

The president warned that these actions pose a real threat to the state, which has only recently begun recovering from a prolonged civil war: "This threatens Syria's stability, contradicts the direction of the entire world, and brings back to Syrians' memory a painful period from which they barely managed to escape."

Despite the harsh tone and serious accusations, the Syrian president clarified that his country remains committed to the 1974 disengagement agreement. He demanded an Israeli withdrawal to the lines defined on December 8, 2024, and categorically rejected attempts to establish new realities on the ground.

He concluded his remarks with a message combining regional warning with an opening for political movement: "We view the ongoing aggression as damaging to security and stability, but a historic opportunity for peace still exists for those who wish to live in peace, a just peace that preserves everyone's rights."