A video of the self-proclaimed Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaà, the Foreign Minister, al-Sheibani, and officers from the International Coalition casually playing basketball in a Damascus court. Friendly smiles, an upbeat rhythm, and a head of state attempting a lay-up he would later replicate diplomatically, only this time in Washington.

In Washington, the Syrian interim President was to sign Syria’s “accession” to an anti‑terrorism coalition agreement, although none of the 72 member states had ever signed such a document. The timing of his visit coincided with the issuance of UN Security Council Resolution 2799, which quietly removed al-Sharaà and his Interior Minister from terrorism watchlists.

This diplomatic cleaning of their records came with a sharp hook. If the Syrian government violated the newly imposed operational constraints, Syria could be placed under Chapter VII, enabling forceful international intervention.

I had the honour of being interviewed by Nadia Gyane & Lou Brown, distinguished hosts of their popular morning show, Daybreak, about the recent Syrian developments.