United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in New York
Guterres arrives in Syria for first time since before war
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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Syria on Saturday, marking the first official visit by a serving UN chief to the country since the outbreak of its nearly 14-year civil war.
The landmark trip represents a significant milestone in Syria’s post-war transition following the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, which brought an end to a conflict that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
Political transition
During his stay in Damascus, Guterres is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously led the offensive that ousted Assad in December 2024.
Until November 2025, Sharaa was under UN Security Council terrorism-related sanctions before severing past group ties and heading the country's transitional leadership.
The Secretary-General will also hold discussions with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, government representatives, and members of Syrian civil society.
According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres intends to emphasize that Syria now holds a crucial opportunity to recover from conflict and establish a stable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all its citizens.
The historic visit comes as Damascus works to rebuild its international standing, highlighted by Sharaa’s participation in the UN General Assembly last year and recent moves by the United States to roll back sanctions and remove Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list.
Security challenges
Guterres' arrival follows recent security concerns, including a bombing near a Damascus hotel hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit weeks earlier.
The UN Chief's agenda also addresses domestic and regional stability:
- Sectarian security: The transitional period has faced strain from episodes of sectarian violence, including the deaths of nearly 1,500 Alawites in coastal regions and hundreds of Druze in southern Syria last year, prompting calls from Guterres for accountability.
- Border monitoring: Guterres is scheduled to visit the UN peacekeeping force overseeing the buffer zone between Syrian and 'Israeli' forces. Damascus continues to demand the withdrawal of 'Israeli' troops who occupied new positions in southern Syria following the fall of the Assad regime.
