United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres made a historic visit to Damascus, Syria, on Saturday, marking the first UN chief visit to the Syrian capital since 2009. Guterres urged the international community to support Syria in its recovery from a conflict that lasted over a decade and resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of Syrians and the displacement of millions more. The civil war ended in 2024 with the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, and Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed interim president in January 2025 to guide state reconstruction and the dissolution of armed factions.

‘The country is at a pivotal moment as it tries to return to stability,’ said Guterres. The widespread destruction caused by the conflict is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars to rebuild. According to the United Nations, 90 percent of Syria’s population lives in poverty, and the World Bank released an assessment stating that rebuilding Syria is expected to cost about $216 billion.

Despite the United States and Europe lifting many sanctions imposed during the Assad dynasty, the impact on the ground has been limited. Cuts to international aid have further worsened living conditions for many Syrians. Guterres also planned to visit the UN force deployed along the border with Israel during his stay in Syria. Al-Sharaa, after taking power, stated that he had no intention for conflict with Israel, but Israel has been suspicious of the new Islamist-led leadership and has taken control of the buffer zone, conducting hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military facilities and periodic incursions into villages outside the buffer zone.

This visit by Guterres is not only a symbolic gesture but also a call to action for the global community to address the urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs of Syria, as it navigates the complex process of rebuilding a nation after a devastating civil war.