Guterres, visiting Damascus, calls for international aid and respect for Syria’s sovereignty

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on his first visit to Syria, called Saturday on the international community to support the country as it navigates its post-war transition under new authorities.

Alongside Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Guterres also called for respect for Syria’s sovereignty, referring to Israeli incursions in the country’s south. The visit is the first by a U.N. secretary-general since Ban Ki-moon’s trip in 2009. It comes more than a year and a half after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown by a coalition of Islamist rebels in late 2024.

“The international community must help create the conditions necessary for economic recovery, support the restoration of essential services and infrastructure, and expand livelihoods and employment opportunities,” Guterres said at a news conference in Damascus, describing the current period as a “pivotal moment” for Syria.

‘Unacceptable’

According to the state-run SANA news agency, Guterres earlier met al-Sharaa at the presidential palace after visiting Damascus’ Old City, including the landmark Umayyad Mosque.

A statement from al-Sharaa’s office said the talks focused on strengthening cooperation between Syria and the United Nations in humanitarian and development fields and supporting reconstruction efforts.

Guterres was welcomed at Damascus International Airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. During his visit, he is also expected to meet U.N. peacekeepers deployed in the buffer zone on the Syrian Golan Heights, part of which Israel unilaterally annexed in 1981.

Following Assad’s ouster, Israel deployed troops into the buffer zone. Its military has also carried out repeated incursions and airstrikes in Syrian territory and said it seeks to establish a demilitarized zone in the country’s south.

At the news conference, Guterres stressed “the importance of full respect for Syria’s sovereignty,” saying the situation near the Golan Heights was “unacceptable.”

“I would like to remind the international community that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory,” he added.

Al-Shaibani, meanwhile, called for “the immediate and unconditional withdrawal” of Israeli forces from areas they have entered.

Transition and reconstruction

Since taking power, al-Sharaa has distanced himself from his jihadist past and sought to attract foreign investment to rebuild a country whose infrastructure was devastated during the civil war from 2011 to 2024.

The international community has urged Syria’s new leadership to establish strong and effective institutions and adopt inclusive governance. In March 2025, al-Sharaa announced a constitutional declaration establishing a five-year transition period culminating in elections.

In the meantime, a new parliament has begun operating, although its members were not elected, drawing criticism from civil society groups.

U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reiterated the need for “greater stability, inclusiveness and prosperity for all Syrians,” noting that the United Nations would continue supporting the country throughout its transition.

Enormous challenges

Syria has continued to face major security and humanitarian challenges. In March 2025, massacres targeted members of the Alawite minority, from which Assad hails, while later that year deadly clashes erupted with Druze fighters.

During his visit, Guterres is expected to meet representatives of civil society, women’s organizations and various communities across the country.

The Syrian war killed more than 500,000 people and displaced or forced more than 10 million others to flee their homes. With much of the population living in poverty, an estimated 15.6 million people require humanitarian assistance. The World Bank has estimated reconstruction costs at more than $216 billion.