United States (International Christian Concern) — Speaking before gathered world leaders Thursday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa urged the international community to come alongside Syria as it rebuilds. “Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world,” he said. The General Assembly speech was the first for a Syrian president since 1967, when President Nureddin al-Atassiy addressed the gathering shortly after Damascus lost control of the Golan Heights to Israel and just a few years before losing power to the Assad family, which has run the country since a 1970 coup.