UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Damascus on Sunday, marking the first visit by a UN chief to Syria since 2009, according to the UN. The visit comes amid Syria's ongoing post-war reconstruction efforts.
Antonio Guterres was received by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani at Damascus International Airport, as reported by Syrian state media. The visit is expected to last three days, according to the same source.
The secretary-general is expected to meet President Ahmad Al-Sharaa during the trip, the UN said. The visit aims to reaffirm support for Syria's efforts to rebuild after the civil war, according to the UN.
Updates
The visit marks the first official trip by a UN secretary-general to Syria in 17 years, surpassing the previously reported 2009 timeline. Additionally, it has been noted that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa remained under United Nations sanctions until last year.
The visit marks the first official trip by a UN secretary-general to Syria in 17 years, surpassing the previously reported 2009 timeline. Additionally, it has been noted that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa remained under United Nations sanctions until last year.
The visit marks the first official trip by a UN secretary-general to Syria in 17 years, surpassing the 2009 timeline previously noted. Additionally, it has been reported that the official Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa remained under United Nations sanctions until last year.
The visit marks the first official trip by a UN secretary-general to Syria in 17 years, surpassing the previously reported 2009 timeline. Additionally, it has been noted that official Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa remained under United Nations sanctions until last year.
The visit marks the first official trip to Syria by a UN secretary-general in 17 years, surpassing the previously reported 2009 timeline. Additionally, it has been noted that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa remained under United Nations sanctions until last year.
The visit marks the first official trip to Syria by a UN secretary-general in 17 years, surpassing previous reports of a 17-year gap since the last such visit in 2009. Additionally, it has been noted that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa remained subject to United Nations sanctions until the previous year.
The meeting between Ahmad Al-Sharaa al-Sharaa and Antonio Guterres took place at People’s Palace in Damascus. During the visit, Antonio Guterres stated that the 'UN stands with Syria at this pivotal moment' and appealed to the international community to provide further support. Additionally, Asaad al-Shaibani noted that these discussions focus on a new phase of partnership, marking Syria's transition to an active role within the UN.
The visit marks the first time a UN secretary-general has traveled to Syria since 2009, rather than the previously noted 17-year gap. During the meeting held at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, the UN chief declared that the "UN stands with Syria at this pivotal moment" and urged the international community to assist in the country's recovery. Additionally, it has been noted that Farouk al-Sharaa, who met with the UN delegation, remained under US sanctions until last year.
The meeting between Ahmad Al-Sharaa al-Sharaa and Antonio Guterres took place at People’s Palace in Damascus, where Antonio Guterres stated that the 'UN stands with Syria at this pivotal moment.' Antonio Guterres also appealed to the international community 'to spare no effort to support the people of Syria.' Furthermore, analyst Asaad al-Shaibani noted that the visit signals a shift in Syria's role toward becoming an 'active partner' in the UN, with discussions centering on recovery and reconstruction.
The meeting between Ahmad Al-Sharaa al-Sharaa and Antonio Guterres took place at People’s Palace in Damascus, where the Secretary-General stated that the "UN stands with Syria at this pivotal moment." Antonio Guterres further appealed to the international community to "spare no effort to support the people of Syria." Additionally, official Asaad al-Shaibani noted that the visit signals a transition toward Syria becoming an "active partner" within the UN, with discussions centered on recovery and reconstruction.
During his visit to Damascus, the UN Secretary-General met with government officials to discuss reconstruction and the country's political transition, including plans for a new constitution and upcoming elections. He also visited the former Sednaya prison and condemned recent actions by Israel in the occupied border region as "totally unacceptable," affirming that these areas remain Syrian territory. Furthermore, the UN head addressed sectarian violence against minorities and emphasized that recovery efforts are critical for regional stability.
During his visit, the UN secretary-general condemned Israeli military actions around the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable,' affirming the area is Syrian territory, while Syrian officials demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of those forces. The visit marks a significant shift in relations, moving issues from crisis management to the highest leadership level and focusing on support for humanitarian recovery, constitutional drafting, and upcoming elections. Additionally, the secretary-general toured the former Sednaya prison and received updates on the return of 3.5 million displaced persons, while emphasizing the importance of respecting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During his visit, the UN secretary-general met with local leadership to discuss humanitarian aid, reconstruction efforts, and political transition, while also touring the former Sednaya prison. He strongly condemned recent Israeli military actions in the buffer zone, labeling them unacceptable and reaffirming that the area remains Syrian territory. Additionally, the visit marks a shift in diplomatic relations, moving engagement from special envoy-led crisis management to direct discussions between the UN and the country's new leadership.
During his visit, the UN secretary-general condemned Israeli military actions around the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable,' affirming the area is Syrian territory, while Syrian authorities demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces. Beyond official diplomatic meetings, the UN chief inspected the former Sednaya prison and visited the UN Disengagement Observer Force. He further pledged UN support for Syria’s ongoing political transition, including drafting a new constitution and holding elections, while emphasizing that the country's recovery is a critical humanitarian and development imperative.
During his visit to Damascus, the UN Secretary-General met with leadership to discuss recovery, reconstruction, and a transition to a new partnership, while emphasizing that the UN is ready to support political processes including constitution drafting and elections. He explicitly condemned recent Israeli military actions in the occupied border zone as "totally unacceptable," affirming the area is Syrian territory, while local authorities demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of those forces. Additionally, the UN chief toured the former Sednaya prison and addressed recent reports of sectarian violence against minority groups, calling for accountability.
During his visit, the UN secretary-general condemned Israeli military actions around the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable,' affirming that the area is Syrian territory. In response, Syrian authorities demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces. Beyond these security discussions, the visit includes a field tour of the UNDOF peacekeeping mission, meetings with civil society representatives regarding the political transition, and an inspection of the former Sednaya prison.
During his visit, Antonio Guterres condemned Israeli military actions in the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable' and reaffirmed that the territory belongs to Syria. Guterres also toured the Sednaya prison and pledged UN support for the country's political transition, including the drafting of a permanent constitution and the organization of fair elections. Furthermore, official discussions in Damascus highlighted the return of millions of displaced people and a new phase of cooperation focused on national reconstruction and regional stability.
During his visit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace to discuss reconstruction and political transition, including support for a new constitution and upcoming elections. Guterres condemned Israeli military actions around the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable' and reaffirmed their status as Syrian territory, while also visiting the former Sednaya prison. Additionally, the UN reported that 1.9 million internally displaced people and 1.7 million refugees have returned to the country since the fall of the previous regime.
During his visit, Antonio Guterres held high-level talks with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace, focusing on reconstruction efforts and the country's political transition, including plans for a new constitution and elections. Guterres condemned Israeli military actions in the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable,' reaffirming the region's status as Syrian territory, while also visiting the Sednaya prison and engaging with civil society representatives. Officials noted that 1.9 million displaced persons and refugees have returned since the fall of the former regime, although 15.6 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance.
During his visit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held talks with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace, marking a shift toward high-level leadership engagement. Guterres condemned recent Israeli military actions and the occupation of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable,' reaffirming the territory as Syrian. Beyond humanitarian cooperation, the agenda includes UN support for Syria’s political transition, such as drafting a new constitution and organizing elections, while official data indicates that millions of displaced persons have returned to the country since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024.
During his visit, Antonio Guterres met with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace to discuss reconstruction and Syria's political transition, while addressing humanitarian needs for the 15.6 million people requiring aid. Guterres condemned Israeli military actions around the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable' and reaffirmed that the territory belongs to Syria. The visit also included inspections of the UNDOF peacekeeping mission and the former Sednaya prison, alongside reports that 3.5 million refugees have returned to the country since the regime change in 2024.
During his visit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held talks with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace, marking a shift in engagement toward the highest leadership level. Guterres condemned Israeli actions in the Golan Heights as 'totally unacceptable' and reaffirmed the territory as Syrian, while also touring the former Sednaya prison. Furthermore, the UN reported that 1.9 million internally displaced people and 1.7 million refugees have returned to the country since the 2024 overthrow of the former regime, though approximately 15.6 million people still require humanitarian assistance.
Secretary-General Guterres met with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa to discuss recovery efforts and expressed alarm over recent sectarian violence targeting Alawites and Druze populations. During his visit, Guterres condemned Israeli military actions in the Golan Heights as "totally unacceptable," affirming the region as Syrian territory, while also touring the former Sednaya prison. Furthermore, he emphasized UN support for Syria’s political transition, including the drafting of a permanent constitution and the scheduling of free elections.
