Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president, met with David Petraeus, retired US general and former CIA director, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
This meeting was particularly significant as Petraeus had previously detained al-Sharaa in Iraq during the US occupation.
Petraeus described al-Sharaa’s transformation from rebel leader to president as one of the most remarkable political changes in the Middle East.
Al-Sharaa, who was previously on America’s terrorist list, now focuses on Syria’s reconstruction and national unity.
The Syrian president emphasized that only the army and government should be the legitimate authority for weapon use, and minority rights will be guaranteed in the constitution.
He also announced ongoing security negotiations with Israel based on the 1974 armistice agreement.
