Key facts
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit Syria on Saturday.
- This is the first visit by a sitting UN chief since the war began in 2011.
- Guterres will meet President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who leads the post-Assad government.
- The visit aims to discuss Syria's recovery and future stability.
- Guterres will also meet Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and civil society representatives.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to visit Syria on Saturday, marking a significant diplomatic event as the first trip by a serving U.N. chief since the country's conflict began nearly 14 years ago. The visit comes after rebels ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, ushering in a transitional period led by an Islamist-led leadership.
Guterres is expected to meet with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously led al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria and was subject to U.N. sanctions until late 2025. He will also hold discussions with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, other government officials, and representatives of Syrian civil society. According to U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres aims to emphasize Syria's opportunity for recovery and to build a more stable, inclusive, and prosperous future.
The visit occurs amidst Syria's efforts to reintegrate into the international community and rebuild its economy after years of conflict and isolation under the Assad family. The transition has been marked by sectarian violence, including the killing of Alawites and Druze minorities in recent years, which Guterres has previously expressed alarm over and called for accountability.
Since taking power, al-Sharaa's government has worked to re-establish diplomatic ties beyond Russia and Iran, Syria's long-time allies. Last year, al-Sharaa attended the U.N. General Assembly, the first Syrian president to do so since 1967. The United States has also eased most sanctions and indicated an intention to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Guterres is also slated to address Syria's new parliament and visit a U.N. peacekeeping force stationed in the buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces, particularly relevant given recent Israeli troop movements into southern Syria following Assad's ouster.