Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Controversial Reception in New York
Ahmed al-Sharaa, identified as an Islamic extremist and previously labeled a terrorist by the State Department, has a complicated history. He was said to have founded Al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda. Yet, on Monday, he attended a welcoming event in New York City following the United Nations General Assembly.
Known also as Abu Mohammad Al Jorani, al-Sharaa participated in a conversation with former CIA director David Petraeus during the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit.
“Sometimes there are some mistakes in people’s journeys.”
Before their discussion, Baihas Baghdadi offered a passionate introduction, framing al-Sharaa as a liberator. This characterization struck me as rather subjective, especially considering that many Syrian Christians and other minorities have expressed distrust towards him. Baghdadi labeled him as “the hero who restored freedom to Syria.”
Interestingly, prior to his appearance, the State Department had listed a $10 million reward for al-Sharaa under its justice program. It highlighted his leadership role in the ANF and noted multiple terrorist attacks across Syria, often targeting civilians. For instance, an incident in April 2015 involved luring around 300 Kurdish civilians from Syrian checkpoints, with reports of a massacre of residents in a Druze village in June of the same year.
Additionally, al-Sharaa’s group claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist activities and collaborated with ISIS during its initial year, contributing to around 600 attacks.
In 2017, al-Sharaa merged Al-Nusra Front with other extremist factions to create Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which remained recognized as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States until just recently, in July.
After HTS forces overthrew Assad’s regime, al-Sharaa began to gain power in Damascus. During the event, Baghdadi remarked, “We honor the sacrifices made to restore Syria,” referencing the violence in the country. He added, “Now that the President has returned Syria to us all, we should ponder what we can do for the nation.”
Interestingly, Petraeus acknowledged their differing roles during the U.S. surge in Iraq yet referred to al-Sharaa in a favorable light. He seemed to align with al-Sharaa’s narrative of liberation, reflecting on the complexities of their past interactions.
Al-Sharaa defended his actions by claiming, “We can’t judge the past by today’s standards.” He expressed a desire to safeguard human rights and combat injustice, hinting at some moral ambiguity in his actions. “There may have been missteps,” he admitted, “but what’s crucial is safeguarding individuals from threats.”
Reports indicate that since al-Sharaa took power, his regime has supported groups involved in violent acts and atrocities against civilians, including recent bombings and other grave incidents.
Petraeus, who had previously advocated for supporting groups like al-Sharaa during U.S. military operations, viewed al-Sharaa’s vision positively, suggesting that his success benefits America as well.
At the summit, al-Sharaa seemed eager for the Trump administration to lift sanctions imposed on Syria. “Just lift the sanctions and you’ll witness the results,” he asserted, referring to measures enacted under the Caesar Act.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged discussions with al-Sharaa about the implementation of Trump’s sanctions relief announcement and the state of Israeli-Syrian relations. However, a State Department spokesperson later noted that they typically remain tight-lipped about private diplomatic discussions.
