Al-Sharaa vows Golan Heights will remain Syrian in UN speech

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed in front of the UN General Assembly Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian despite Israel's claims over the strategically important territory. "Any attempts that violate our sovereignty, violate international law, will be stopped. Golan will remain Syrian territories," al-Sharaa said at the UN meeting of world leaders in New York. The US had been the only country to recognise Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981, which it captured from Syria in 1967, until Colombia's new hard-right government in August recognised Israel's claim.