Watch: Syria president scrolls Instagram during Erdogan's speech in UN
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was filmed scrolling through Instagram Reels during a speech by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the UN General Assembly. The viral moment occurred during a high-level diplomatic gathering focused on global conflicts.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of modern social media habits with high-stakes international diplomacy and the ongoing efforts of Syria's new leadership to engage globally.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was caught on camera scrolling through Instagram Reels on his smartphone as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.A video from inside the UNGA hall shows al-Sharaa looking down at his phone and appearing to scroll through Instagram's short-video feed while Erdogan was speaking from the podium.The clip has since gone viral on social media. Some reports said al-Sharaa was also sharing Reels, but the footage itself does not establish what he was watching or whether he was messaging anyone.The moment came as nearly 130 heads of state and government gathered in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly's high-level debate.Erdogan addressed the gathering on Tuesday, speaking about issues including Gaza, Palestinian statehood and reforms to the UN Security Council.Al-Sharaa's second UNGA appearanceThe viral moment came ahead of al-Sharaa's own appearance at the UN.
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