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Syria’s Al‑Sharaa Presses U.S. to End Caesar Sanctions in First UNGA Visit Since 1967

He met Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York, saying talks with Israel on a security arrangement had reached an advanced stage.

Overview

  • Al‑Sharaa renewed his call for Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Act, arguing remaining sanctions now punish Syrians despite executive waivers ordered by President Trump.
  • The State Department said Rubio and Al‑Sharaa discussed counterterrorism, missing Americans and IsraelSyria relations, without committing on lifting remaining sanctions.
  • Al‑Sharaa said he seeks a deal to halt Israeli strikes and withdrawals in southern Syria but rejected joining the Abraham Accords, while Israeli leaders cautioned against expectations of a quick breakthrough.
  • Syria set October 5 for its first post‑Assad parliamentary selection, with two‑thirds of seats chosen by provincial electoral colleges and one‑third appointed by the president due to displacement and documentation hurdles.
  • In remarks in New York, Al‑Sharaa said talks with the Kurdish‑led SDF are delayed and warned decentralization demands risk broader conflict, highlighting the fragility of Syria’s internal transition.