Syria leader plays down normalising Israel ties

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (AFP): Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, voiced hope Monday for a security deal that eases tensions with Israel but he played down the prospect of recognition.

Sharaa, a former jihadist whose forces toppled longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and later will deliver the first address in decades by a Syrian leader to the General Assembly.

Syrian officials have set a goal of reaching military and security agreements by the end of the year with Israel.