Guterres Makes First UN Chief Visit to Syria in 17 Years

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Reuters, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the first visit by a UN top leader to Syria in 17 years and said the situation around the Golan Heights was “completely unacceptable.” In Damascus, Guterres met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani at a joint news conference on Saturday, July 25, and voiced deep concern over border security. Shaibani reiterated Syria’s demand that Israeli forces “immediately and unconditionally withdraw” from the UN patrol buffer zone they entered and occupied in 2024, saying the move would help restore peace and stability. During the trip, Syrian President Sharaa received Guterres at the presidential palace, where they discussed Syria’s situation and postwar reconstruction. Guterres said Syria’s recovery from the war would require international cooperation, while Shaibani said the talks focused on strengthening UN support for reconstruction and on Syria’s plan to gradually close camps for internally displaced people.