Guterres visits Syria for first UN visit since war.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Syria for the first time since 2009. He met with the Syrian president to show support for rebuilding. This visit is seen as a sign of international support for the Syrian government.
Antonio Guterres spent three days in Syria in December 2024. He met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian interim president. This was the first time a UN Secretary-General had visited Syria since before the civil war began. The visit aimed to support the country’s recovery efforts. It also signaled a potential change in how the international community interacts with the Syrian government.
Summarized from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
Highlights
First UN Visit Since War
Antonio Guterres visited Syria for the first time since before the civil war.
15 Years Since Last Visit
The UN Secretary-General visited Syria for the first time in 15 years.
Meeting with Interim President
Guterres met with the Syrian interim president.
Visit to Saidnaya Prison
Guterres visited the Saidnaya military prison.
Solidarity Visit and Support
Guterres’s visit is a ‘solidarity visit’ to show international support for the Syrian government.
Perspectives
- Guterres visited Syria for the first time since before the civil war.
- The visit is a sign of international support for the Syrian government.
- Guterres praised the ongoing political transition in Syria.
- This is the first visit by a UN chief to Syria since 2009.
Source ZEIT Online and El País state that a political transition is ongoing. This suggests a positive development.
ZEIT Online, El País
Sources tagesschau, ZEIT Online, France24, Público, and El Mundo emphasize the visit is part of efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and promote a political solution, implying the transition is incomplete.
tagesschau, ZEIT Online, France24, Público, El Mundo