United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Damascus, the first serving UN chief to visit Syria in 17 years. He will meet senior officials, inspect the UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights, and address the new parliament. The trip comes as Syria seeks renewed international ties following political change in 2024, and after recent bombings in Damascus for which authorities say ISIL-linked suspects were arrested.
Guterres Visits Damascus — First Official UN Secretary-General Trip To Syria In 17 Years
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres [File: Omar Havana/AP Photo]
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Damascus, marking the first official visit by a serving UN secretary-general to Syria in 17 years.
Arrival and Meetings
Guterres landed on Saturday morning at Damascus International Airport, where he and his delegation were received by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, the state news agency reported. During the visit he is scheduled to meet President Ahmed al-Sharaa and hold talks with other senior government officials and representatives of Syrian civil society.
Context And Diplomatic Significance
The trip is the first by a UN secretary-general since 2009, before Syria's devastating 14-year civil war began. It also represents a diplomatic milestone for President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has sought to rebuild international ties after assuming power following the 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Assad.
Some media reports describe President al-Sharaa as having past links to armed groups and note that he was subject to UN Security Council sanctions until last year; those characterizations are reported by outside sources and remain disputed in some quarters.
Field Visit And Security Focus
As part of the trip, Guterres will conduct a field inspection of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), deployed in the Golan Heights, to review implementation of ceasefire commitments with Israel. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Guterres intends to emphasize that Syria has an opportunity “not only to recover from conflict, but also to lay the foundations for a future for Syria that will be more stable, more inclusive, and more prosperous for all Syrians.”
UN Spokesperson: "Syria has an opportunity to recover from conflict and lay the foundations for a more stable, inclusive and prosperous future for all Syrians."
Security Concerns And Recent Incidents
The visit comes weeks after two explosions near a Damascus hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron had stayed. Syrian authorities say they have dismantled the cell responsible and arrested suspects they allege were affiliated with ISIL (ISIS); those claims come from Syrian officials and are the subject of ongoing investigations.
Guterres is expected to remain in Damascus for several days and to address Syria's new parliament, though his office has not published a full itinerary.
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