United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Syria, marking the first visit by a UN chief since before the civil war erupted. State media reported that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received Guterres and his delegation at Damascus International Airport. This visit comes more than a year and a half after new authorities led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. Guterres aims to reaffirm support for Syria's transition and meet with President Sharaa, civil society representatives, and address the new transitional parliament.
Guterres' visit is the first by a UN chief since Ban Ki-moon in 2009, two years before the start of Syria's civil war, which killed over half a million people. Since Sharaa took power, the international community has urged the new authorities to build strong institutions and establish inclusive governance. Guterres is expected to emphasize the importance of laying the foundations for a stable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all Syrians.
During his three-day visit, Guterres will also meet with representatives of Syrian civil society and NGOs supporting women's issues. He is set to visit a UN peacekeeping force stationed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 1974. Despite tensions, Israel and Syria's new authorities have held several rounds of direct talks and agreed to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism.
Several senior UN officials have visited Syria since Assad's fall, including rights chief Volker Turk and UN nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi. A UN Security Council delegation also made its first-ever visit to Syria late last year. Guterres' visit signifies the UN's continued commitment to supporting Syria during this critical period.