United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres concluded a two-day visit to Syria on Sunday, using the final day of his trip to call for the immediate removal of all international sanctions currently imposed on the country.
Guterres, who is the first UN chief to visit Syria since his predecessor Ban Ki-moon in 2009, described his time in the country as a deeply meaningful and productive mission.
During his stay in Damascus, Guterres held high-level meetings with key figures in the new administration, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and the speaker of the newly formed transitional parliament, which held its first session earlier this month.
Beyond official government meetings, the Secretary-General engaged with representatives from Syria's civil society, diverse communities, women, and young people.
He also visited the Sednaya prison near the capital, a facility that was notoriously brutal during the era of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad.
Addressing the economic challenges facing the nation, Guterres acknowledged that some Western countries, including the United States, have already announced the easing of certain sanctions. However, he noted that investors remain cautious and that the World Bank has estimated the total cost of post-war reconstruction at $216 billion, or approximately €190 billion.
"I welcome steps that have eased sanctions, and opening new possibilities for economic recovery, but all these sanctions must be removed immediately," Guterres stated during a press conference in Damascus.
The Secretary-General emphasized that the United Nations stands with the Syrian people at this pivotal moment. He issued a strong appeal to the international community to support the Syrian government in its efforts to restore essential services, rebuild infrastructure, and revive livelihoods.
A critical component of this recovery, according to Guterres, is the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees.
UN data indicates that since the ousting of Assad in December 2024, approximately 1.7 million refugees have returned to Syria, while 5.5 million remain internally displaced and six million are still living overseas.
The visit occurred against a backdrop of regional instability. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Israeli forces carried out an incursion early Sunday into the villages of Maariya and Al-Aarda in the Yarmuk basin, located in the west of Daraa province.
The report stated that soldiers, accompanied by three military vehicles and a bulldozer, established a checkpoint in Al-Aarda and dropped leaflets warning residents against obstructing their movements.
Since the December 2024 overthrow of Assad, Israel has sent troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and has conducted multiple strikes and incursions into Syrian territory.
Guterres addressed these tensions directly, stating on Saturday that violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable. He reiterated that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory and expressed deep concern regarding Israeli violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
During his meeting with President al-Sharaa, he reaffirmed the UN's commitment to Syria's independence and unity. Regarding the country's political transition, Guterres expressed his support, stating, "I have no doubt to say this transition is going in the right direction."
