United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres made a historic visit to Damascus on Saturday, calling on the global community to rally behind Syria as the nation works to rebuild following more than a decade of devastating civil war.
The visit marks the first time a UN chief has traveled to the Syrian capital since 2009.
The conflict resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions before rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
The former rebel forces were led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took office as interim president in January 2025 to oversee the nation’s reconstruction and manage the disbanding of independent armed groups.
Following a meeting with al-Sharaa shortly after arriving, Guterres noted that the country was at a “pivotal moment” in its journey toward stability.
Overcoming the conflict’s massive structural damage will require immense financial resources. A World Bank assessment released last year estimated that rebuilding Syria will cost approximately $216 billion.
Although the United States and European nations have rolled back numerous sanctions previously targeted at the Assad administration, tangible economic relief remains sparse.
Sharp reductions in international aid have further deteriorated living standards, with the United Nations calculating that 90 percent of the Syrian population now lives in poverty.
As part of his itinerary, Guterres is set to inspect the UN peacekeeping contingent stationed along the Israeli border.
While interim president al-Sharaa previously stated he wished to avoid conflict with Israel, Israeli authorities remained wary of the new Islamist-led government and moved swiftly to secure the border buffer zone.
Israeli forces have conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Syrian military installations alongside occasional incursions into nearby communities, occasionally triggering violent clashes with local residents.
