Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa has departed for the United States, state media reported Sunday, on a landmark trip that will see him address the United Nations General Assembly.

 

Sharaa was on his way "to the United States of America to participate in the affairs of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York", state television reported, carrying a statement from the presidency.

 

The visit marks the first time a Syrian president has addressed the General Assembly since Nureddin al-Atassi in 1967.

 

Al-Sharaa, who came to power after leading a rebel offensive that overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, remains under UN sanctions due to his past. He is required to obtain a special exemption each time he travels abroad.

 

Progress in Negotiations with ‘Israel’

A source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry told Agence France-Presse (AFP) earlier this week that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, who is currently on an official visit to Washington, will discuss "negotiations with Israel."

 

The source said there has been "progress in the talks with ‘Israel’ and there will be successive agreements before the end of this year with the Israeli side."

 

The agreements are expected to be "primarily security and military agreements."

 

Al-Sharaa himself told state television last week that Syria is negotiating with ‘Israel’ to reach an agreement under which ‘Israel’ would withdraw from the areas it occupied after the overthrow of the Assad regime.

 

Diplomatic Momentum with the West

The president's visit to the UN comes as Syria's new transitional authority enjoys regional and international support.

 

Al-Sharaa has already met with US President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

 

His foreign minister's visit to Washington is being called a "historic" step and a "turning point" in Syrian-American relations after decades of a break in communication.

 

Syrian state news agency SANA quoted the foreign ministry as saying the visit reflects Syria’s openness to "direct dialogue with the United States in an effort to open a new page in relations."