UN chief Guterres visits Damascus, Syrian trip since 2009

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited Damascus on Friday, July 24, 2026, marking the first trip by a UN chief to Syria in 17 years. The visit, conducted at the invitation of the Syrian government, included official talks with President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, as well as meetings with representatives of civil society and non-governmental organizations.

The secretary-general’s itinerary also featured a field tour to inspect the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) stationed in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. This component of the visit was aimed at monitoring commitments under the longstanding ceasefire agreement between Syria and Israel. UNDOF was established in 1974 to supervise the disengagement agreement following the 1973 war.

A UN spokesman stated that Guterres would use the visit to renew the UN’s commitment to supporting Syria during its current transitional phase, emphasizing the principles of sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. He was expected to be briefed by Syrian officials on developments in the country’s political transition, recovery efforts, and the impact of years of conflict.