UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for a 'visit of solidarity,' marking the first trip by a serving United Nations chief since 2009 to an Islamist-led Syria. This visit comes as the new Syrian government, which ousted Bashar al-Assad about 2 years ago, faces ongoing questions about its commitment to protecting religious minorities, following significant sectarian bloodshed under its rule. Guterres posted on X that "The United Nations stands with Syria at this pivotal moment," and 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 reported. The meeting took place at the People's Palace in Damascus on July 25, 2026. Guterres' visit represents another milestone for Syria since rebel factions 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.
UN Engagement with Islamist Rule
At the time of Assad's ousting, Guterres described "the end of the Syrian dictatorship" 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, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Dujarric stated that Guterres will emphasize Syria'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." Guterres is expected to remain in Damascus for several days, though his full schedule hasn't been released.
Just weeks ago, two bombs exploded near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron had spent the night. This incident overshadowed the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since Assad was toppled. Sharaa's government is actively seeking to rebuild Syria's international ties and economy after nearly 14 years of war and decades of isolation under the Assad family's rule.
Sectarian Violence and Regional Realignment
The transition period under the new Islamist-led government has been marred by two major episodes of sectarian bloodshed. These events have tested President Sharaa's repeated pledges to protect Syria's religious minorities. Last year, nearly 1,500 Alawites, the sect from which Assad originated, 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 bouts of violence and has called for accountability.
President Sharaa, who broke ties with al Qaeda in 2016, led an alliance of Islamist rebel factions that ousted Assad in a lightning offensive about 2 years ago. Since taking power, his government has sought to re-establish Syria's diplomatic ties, aiming to expand beyond Assad's longtime allies, Russia and Iran. About 1 year ago, Sharaa became the first Syrian president since 1967 to participate in the UN General Assembly in New York.
Western Policy Shifts and Israel's Security
The United States has lifted most sweeping sanctions on Syria, and US President Donald Trump informed Sharaa earlier this month of his intent to remove Syria from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism. Guterres is scheduled to address Syria's new parliament on Monday. He will also visit a UN peacekeeping force that has maintained a buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces for decades, Dujarric confirmed. Israeli troops have occupied new areas in southern Syria after Assad was ousted, with Damascus demanding their withdrawal and a return to a 1974 disengagement agreement.