UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Syria on Saturday for a three-day visit, marking the first trip to the country by a UN secretary-general since Syria’s civil war began in 2011. Syria’s state news agency SANA said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed Guterres and his delegation at Damascus International Airport. The report was published on July 25, 2026.

Guterres is expected to reaffirm UN support for Syria’s political transition. The country entered a new political phase after the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa removed longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad from power in December 2024. The previous visit by a UN secretary-general was made by Ban Ki-moon in 2009.

The civil war began two years after Ban’s visit, killing more than 500,000 people and leaving Syria in conflict for a prolonged period. During the current trip, Guterres will meet President al-Sharaa and exchange views with civil society representatives and members of nongovernmental organizations working on women’s rights. He is also scheduled to address Syria’s recently established interim parliament.