Israeli troops have occupied new areas in southern Syria following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Damascus has demanded their immediate withdrawal, insisting on a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement. This expansion of military occupation unfolds as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday, marking the first visit by a serving United Nations chief since 2009.
Continued Occupation
The Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, views the Israeli presence as a violation of its sovereignty. Damascus has consistently called for Israeli forces to pull back from the newly occupied areas. These demands are rooted in the 1974 disengagement agreement, a framework designed to maintain a buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces. Guterres is scheduled to visit a UN peacekeeping force that has upheld this buffer zone for decades. The UN chief's visit occurs in the fifteenth year of the conflict that began in 2011, a period that has seen significant shifts in Syria's political landscape.
Syria's Transitional Period
President Sharaa received Guterres at the presidential palace in Damascus on July 25, 2026. State news agency SANA confirmed the meeting took place at the People's Palace. Guterres described his trip as a "visit of solidarity," stating on X that "The United Nations stands with Syria at this pivotal moment." He urged the international community to "spare no effort" in supporting the Syrian people. Sharaa's government, which came to power about 2 years ago after rebels ousted Assad, is actively working to rebuild Syria's international ties and economy. The nation has endured nearly 14 years of war and decades of isolation under the Assad family's rule.
The transitional period, steered by an Islamist-led leadership, seeks to expand Syria's diplomatic relationships beyond Assad's longtime allies, Russia and Iran. Last year, Sharaa became the first Syrian president since 1967 to participate in the UN General Assembly in New York, a significant step in this re-engagement. The United States has also begun to shift its stance, lifting most sweeping sanctions on Syria. US President Donald Trump informed Sharaa earlier this month of his intention to remove Syria from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism. Guterres is also slated to meet Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, other government officials, and representatives of Syrian civil society. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted Guterres will emphasize the country's opportunity "not only to recover from conflict, but also to lay the foundations for a future for Syria that will be more stable, more inclusive, and more prosperous for all Syrians."
Internal Unrest and International Appeals
Despite the diplomatic overtures, the transition has faced significant challenges, including two major episodes of sectarian bloodshed. Last year, nearly 1,500 Alawites were killed in Syria's coastal region by government-aligned factions. Months later, hundreds of Syrians from the Druze minority were killed in the south. Guterres expressed alarm over both instances of violence, calling for accountability for these acts. His visit comes just weeks after two bombs detonated near a Damascus hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron had stayed, an event that overshadowed the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since Assad's removal. Guterres is expected to address Syria's new parliament on Monday.