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"It's not necessarily the case that IS manages to regroup and make big gains."

"There should be no doubt — we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria."

"ISIS is likely already exploiting the post-Assad situation in Syria to continue its slow reconstitution in central Syria."

"[T]he chaos & anarchy [following the fall of the Assad regime] will inevitably be a boon to the Islamic State."

"ISIS will try to use this period to re-establish its capabilities, to create safe havens."

"We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capabilities to create a safe haven."

Will the Islamic State Return to Syria?

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"I told [Sharaa], I hope you're going to join [the Abraham Accords] once you're straightened out and he said yes."

Will Syria Join the Abraham Accords?

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim president, addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday — marking the first time a Syrian leader has addressed the body since 1967.

Anadolu Ajansı

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim president, addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday — marking the first time a Syrian leader has addressed the body since 1967.

Al-Sharaa, who previously went by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, had been a member of the Islamic State in Iraq before being tasked by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to form an offshoot in Syria. Tensions between the two led Al-Sharaa to switch allegiances of his group to Al-Qaeda, before breaking off once again in 2016.

BBC News

Al-Sharaa, who previously went by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, had been a member of the Islamic State in Iraq before being tasked by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to form an offshoot in Syria. Tensions between the two led Al-Sharaa to switch allegiances of his group to Al-Qaeda, before breaking off once again in 2016.

It was this group, known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — designated by the UN, the U.K. and previously the U.S. as a terror organization — that led the charge and toppled the previous Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad last December, leaving Al-Sharaa as de-facto leader. Earlier this week, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/syria-sets-october-for-first-parliamentary-vote-since-assad">his government announced that elections will take place on Oct. 5</a>.

Middle East Eye

UN News

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It was this group, known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — designated by the UN, the U.K. and previously the U.S. as a terror organization — that led the charge and toppled the previous Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad last December, leaving Al-Sharaa as de-facto leader. Earlier this week, his government announced that elections will take place on Oct. 5.

In Al-Sharaa's roughly nine-minute address to the UN, he referenced his past, stating that the Syrian people had no choice but "to organize militarily to oust a criminal regime." He added that: "Syria has transformed from an exporter of crisis to an opportunity for peace for Syria and the region," and called on nations to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria.

Middle East Monitor

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The Times of Israel

Arab News Japan

In Al-Sharaa's roughly nine-minute address to the UN, he referenced his past, stating that the Syrian people had no choice but "to organize militarily to oust a criminal regime." He added that: "Syria has transformed from an exporter of crisis to an opportunity for peace for Syria and the region," and called on nations to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria.

Al-Sharaa also criticized Israel which has seized Syria's side of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights and launched dozens of strikes which it says are to protect Syria's Druze minority. He said these attacks threaten "new crises," and called on the international community to stand behind it, while adding that Syria remains committed to dialogue and the 1974 agreement that governs the buffer zone between the two nations.

Al-Sharaa also criticized Israel which has seized Syria's side of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights and launched dozens of strikes which it says are to protect Syria's Druze minority. He said these attacks threaten "new crises," and called on the international community to stand behind it, while adding that Syria remains committed to dialogue and the 1974 agreement that governs the buffer zone between the two nations.

In his concluding remarks, Al-Sharaa said: "The suffering Syria endured we wish upon no one. We are among the people most deeply aware of the horrors of war and destruction. For this reason, we stand firmly with the people of Gaza, its children and women, and all people facing violations and aggression. We call for an immediate end to the war."

skynews.com

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In his concluding remarks, Al-Sharaa said: "The suffering Syria endured we wish upon no one. We are among the people most deeply aware of the horrors of war and destruction. For this reason, we stand firmly with the people of Gaza, its children and women, and all people facing violations and aggression. We call for an immediate end to the war."

Syrian Leader Addresses UN for the First Time in Nearly 60 Years

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