UN Secretary General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for the first trip to Syria by a serving United Nations' chief since 2009, before the start of a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
"The United Nations stands with Syria at this pivotal moment," Guterres said in a post on X on arriving for what he described as a "visit of solidarity". He appealed to the international community to "spare no effort" to support the Syrian people.
Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa received Guterres at the presidential palace in Damascus, state news agency SANA said.
Guterres' visit is another milestone for Syria since rebels ousted president Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, ending the war that began in 2011 and launching a transitional period steered by an Islamist-led leadership.
At the time, Guterres described "the end of the Syrian dictatorship" under Assad as a sign of hope for the region.
The UN chief will also meet Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, other government officials and representatives of Syrian civil society, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
Sharaa's government is seeking to rebuild Syria's international ties and economy after nearly 14 years of war and decades of isolation under Assad family rule.
Since taking power, his government has sought to re-establish Syria's diplomatic ties to expand beyond Assad's longtime allies, Russia and Iran.
Last year, Sharaa became the first Syrian president since 1967 to take part in the UN General Assembly in New York.
The United States has lifted most sweeping sanctions on Syria and U.S. President Donald Trump informed Sharaa earlier this month that he intended to remove Syria from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Guterres is expected to address Syria's new parliament on Monday and will visit a UN peacekeeping force that has maintained a buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces for decades, Dujarric said.
Israeli troops have occupied new areas in southern Syria after Assad was ousted. Damascus has demanded they withdraw and return to a 1974 disengagement agreement.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are progressing and suggested an agreement with Iran could be reached “soon”.
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