United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has begun a landmark visit to Syria, signaling a potential new chapter in the country’s engagement with the international community. Guterres arrived at Damascus International Airport on Saturday (July 25), where he was welcomed by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. It marks the first visit by a UN secretary-general to Syria since 2009.
The visit comes as Syria seeks to rebuild its international ties after years of civil war and political turmoil. Observers view the trip as particularly significant following the 2024 ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad, with the high-level UN engagement seen as an important diplomatic signal toward the country’s new leadership.
A key item on Guterres’ agenda is a meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Until last year, al-Sharaa had remained under United Nations Security Council sanctions because of his past association as an al-Qaeda commander. He is now leading efforts to restore Syria’s international relations and secure greater global support for the country’s reconstruction.
During his visit, the UN chief is also expected to meet senior government officials, representatives of humanitarian organizations, and members of Syrian civil society. In addition, he will travel to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to assess the implementation of the existing ceasefire and visit the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which monitors the buffer zone between Syria and Israel.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Syria now has an opportunity to move from conflict toward recovery, strengthen stability, and build an inclusive state. He expressed hope that the secretary-general’s visit would help advance that process.
Although the UN has not released Guterres’ full itinerary, media reports indicate that he is expected to remain in Syria for several days and may address the country’s parliament on Monday.
The visit comes amid heightened security concerns. During a recent visit by the French president to Syria, two bomb explosions were reported in Damascus. Syrian authorities later said they had identified the cell responsible for the attack, alleging that it was linked to the Islamic State (ISIS).
Source: NDTV.