United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for his first visit to Syria as U.N. chief, urging the international community to provide support to the nation's people.
Guterres' visit marks the first time a U.N. secretary-general has visited the Syrian capital since 2009. Shortly after his arrival, he met with Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and toured historical sites in the city.
"I have just arrived in Damascus for a visit of solidarity," Guterres posted on X, formerly Twitter. He added that the United Nations stands with Syria at this “pivotal moment” and appealed to the international community to "spare no effort to support the people of Syria."
Syria is attempting to recover from a devastating conflict that began in March 2011. The conflict resulted in nearly half a million deaths and widespread destruction, with rebuilding costs estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
Following the end of the five-decade Assad family rule in December 2024, the nation has been grappling with the aftermath of years of conflict and the impact of international sanctions. While some sanctions imposed during the Assad era have been lifted by the United States and Europe, their effect on the ground has been limited.
Cuts to international aid have further exacerbated living conditions, with the United Nations estimating that 90% of Syria's population now lives in poverty. An assessment released last year by the World Bank indicated that rebuilding the country after more than a decade of civil war could cost approximately $216 billion.
During his three-day visit, Guterres is also scheduled to visit the U.N. force stationed along the border with Israel. The new leadership under al-Sharaa has stated no desire for conflict with Israel, though Israel remains wary of the new administration. Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes on Syrian military targets and made periodic incursions into villages, which have sometimes led to confrontations.