Guterres from Damascus: UN calls for mobilizing international support to assist Syria and for Israel's withdrawal

Guterres from Damascus: UN calls for mobilizing international support to back Syria and for Israel’s withdrawal

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the international community to intensify its support for Syria during his first visit to Damascus since 2009, affirming the UN’s solidarity with the Syrian people. During the visit, Guterres met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and held discussions on political and humanitarian developments, followed by a tour of the Old City and the Umayyad Mosque.

Guterres stressed the importance of strengthening stability and supporting reconstruction and institution-building efforts, urging the international community to continue backing the Syrian people. He also expressed concern during a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani over developments in the vicinity of the Golan Heights, describing the situation there as “unacceptable,” while calling on the Syrian side to demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas they have advanced into.

The visit comes as UN data indicate the return of approximately 1.9 million internally displaced persons and 1.7 million refugees since the end of 2024, while millions of Syrians still require humanitarian assistance, amid ongoing international efforts to support the country’s recovery after years of conflict.