United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a historic visit to the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday, July 25. According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, Guterres was received by President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace. The visit was the first by a UN secretary-general to Syria since 2009.
At a joint press conference with al-Sharaa, Guterres urged the international community, saying: 'No country can emerge from a devastating conflict and rebuild itself alone. We must help Syria in its determination to do so.'
The visit is seen as a significant step in Syria's return to the international stage after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and the launch of a transition process by an Islamist-rooted government. Guterres described the trip as a 'solidarity visit' and delivered the message that 'the UN stands with Syria at this critical time.'
Reconstruction and diplomatic repair
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani reiterated that they are seeking greater support from the international community, particularly the European Union. Al-Shaibani said the meeting addressed increasing UN reconstruction support and the government's plan to close displacement camps.
The al-Sharaa government is working to rebuild Syria's diplomatic ties and economy after nearly 14 years of war and decades of isolation. The transition has been overshadowed by sectarian violence that killed around 1,500 Alawites in the coastal region and hundreds of Druze in the south last year. Guterres had sounded the alarm over both waves of violence and called for accountability.
Al-Sharaa, who remained under UN Security Council sanctions for terrorism links until November 2025, was the former leader of Al-Qaeda's Syrian branch. After cutting ties with the group in 2016, he led the Islamist opposition alliance that toppled Assad in December 2024. Since coming to power, his government has sought to rebuild Syria's diplomatic ties, reaching beyond Assad's longstanding allies Russia and Iran.
Regional tensions and international steps
During his visit, Guterres is expected to also visit the UN peacekeeping force that has for decades kept a buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces. Israeli forces seized new areas in southern Syria after Assad's fall. Damascus is demanding the withdrawal of troops and a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement.
The visit comes just weeks after two bombs exploded near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying in Damascus, marring the first visit by an EU head of state since Assad's overthrow.
Al-Sharaa became the first Syrian president to attend the UN General Assembly since 1967 last year. The United States has lifted most sanctions on Syria, and US President Donald Trump informed al-Sharaa earlier this month of his intention to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres would also meet with other government officials and representatives of Syrian civil society, and is expected to address parliament on Monday. He added that Guterres would deliver the message that the country 'now has the opportunity not only to emerge from conflict but to lay the foundations for a more stable, more inclusive and more prosperous future for all Syrians.'
Maria Nica / Editor
