Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has drawn widespread attention online after footage appeared to show him scrolling through Instagram Reels during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The video, recorded inside the UNGA hall, shows al-Sharaa looking at his smartphone and appearing to scroll through Instagram’s short-video feed while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was delivering his address to world leaders.
The footage quickly went viral across social media, prompting a range of reactions from users.
Some reports claimed that al-Sharaa was also sharing Reels, but the footage itself does not establish exactly what he was watching or whether he was communicating with anyone through the platform.
The moment occurred during the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly’s high-level debate, where world leaders gathered to discuss major international and regional issues.
The appearance marked al-Sharaa’s second participation in the UN General Assembly. He previously addressed the world body in 2025, following his appointment as Syria’s interim president earlier that year.
His latest appearance comes as Syria seeks greater international engagement while discussions continue over the country’s diplomatic and regional relations.
