Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was seen using his mobile phone during the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. A video circulating on social media shows al-Sharaa scrolling through Instagram Reels and sharing them while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was delivering his speech.
The footage has gone viral on social media, with users sharing clips of the Syrian president appearing to focus on his phone during the proceedings.
Al-Sharaa attending UNGA for second time
This is al-Sharaa’s second appearance at the UN General Assembly. In 2025, he became the first Syrian representative in nearly 60 years to address world leaders at the UNGA.
Al-Sharaa became Syria’s interim president in January 2025 after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. He had led the armed opposition that removed Assad from power in December 2024.
Boris Johnson was also seen using phone at UN in 2016
A similar incident involving former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was reported in 2016, when he was serving as the UK’s foreign secretary.
Johnson was seen using his mobile phone while then-British Prime Minister Theresa May was addressing the UN General Assembly. During the UN’s live coverage, cameras repeatedly showed the British delegation, with Johnson holding his phone and only occasionally looking toward the speech.
According to The Independent, Johnson spent a significant amount of time sending messages on his phone during the proceedings.
Al-Sharaa was on US terrorist list
Al-Sharaa has a history of association with al-Qaeda. He reportedly abandoned his medical studies in 2003 and established contacts with al-Qaeda leaders. He was arrested by US forces in 2005 and spent several years in prison.
After his release, he formed Jabhat al-Nusra, which became al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria. The US designated him as a terrorist in 2013 and announced a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture.
In 2016, al-Sharaa announced a break with al-Qaeda and later established Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Following Assad’s ouster in December 2024, al-Sharaa emerged as Syria’s new leader and was appointed interim president in January 2025.