Diplomacy & Geopolitics
UN chief Antonio Guterres calls for immediate removal of Assad-era Syria sanctions
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the immediate removal of sanctions imposed on Syria during the rule of ousted president Bashar al-Assad as he concluded a two-day visit to the country. Speaking at a press conference in Damascus on July 26, Guterres welcomed steps taken by Western governments to ease sanctions and said they had created new possibilities for economic recovery. He said all remaining Assad-era sanctions should be removed immediately.
Syria’s new authorities, who took power in December 2024, are seeking to rebuild the country after more than 13 years of war, restore public institutions and restart the economy.
The United States and other Western governments have announced measures easing sanctions, although investors have remained cautious. The World Bank has estimated that Syria’s post-war reconstruction could cost $216 billion.
Guterres said the United Nations stood with the Syrian people at what he described as a pivotal moment. He called on the international community to support both Syria’s population and its government, saying the country was at a crossroads. He said Syria needed investment in its people, economy and institutions, as well as help restoring essential services, rebuilding infrastructure and reviving livelihoods. Guterres also called for support to enable the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced people.
According to the United Nations, around 1.7 million refugees have returned to Syria since Assad was removed from power. About 5.5 million people remain displaced within the country, while six million Syrians remain abroad.
Guterres was the first UN secretary-general to visit Syria since Ban Ki-moon in 2009, two years before the war began. More than half a million people were killed during the conflict. During the visit, Guterres met President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the speaker of Syria’s transitional parliament, which held its first session this month. He also met members of the UN peacekeeping force deployed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and representatives of Syrian civil society, religious and ethnic communities, women and young people.
Guterres visited Sednaya prison near Damascus, which the source described as one of Syria’s most notorious detention facilities under Assad.
International governments and organisations have urged Syria’s new authorities to establish an inclusive political system representing the country’s ethnic and religious communities. Guterres said he believed the transition was moving in the right direction.
He also said violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were unacceptable. His comments came hours after Syrian state media reported that Israeli forces had carried out an incursion and artillery fire in southern Syria. The supplied material did not state that Guterres was responding directly to that incident.
After Assad’s removal, Israeli forces entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces near the occupied Golan Heights. Israel has also carried out strikes and incursions farther inside southern Syria while seeking a wider demilitarised area.
Update
Guterres said Syria needs investment in its people, economy and institutions, and support to restore services, rebuild infrastructure and revive livelihoods.
Guterres called for help for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced people.
The UN says about 1.7 million refugees have returned to Syria since Bashar al-Assad was ousted, while about 5.5 million people remain displaced inside Syria and six million overseas.
Guterres met President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the speaker of the new transitional parliament during the visit.
Guterres met UN peacekeepers deployed in the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights and representatives of civil society, diverse communities, women and young people.
Guterres visited Sednaya prison near Damascus.
Guterres said he believed the transition was going in the right direction.
Guterres said violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable, after Syrian state media reported an Israeli incursion and artillery shelling in southern Syria.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 14:24:46 UTC.
Update
Guterres made the appeal at a press conference in Damascus as he concluded a two-day visit to Syria.
He said sanctions eased so far had opened possibilities for economic recovery, but that all sanctions should be removed immediately.
Syria's new authorities took power in December 2024 and are seeking to rebuild the economy, infrastructure and institutions after more than 13 years of war.
Western countries, including the United States, have begun lifting economic sanctions on Syria.
The World Bank has estimated Syria's post-war reconstruction could cost $216 billion.
Guterres is the first UN chief to visit Syria since Ban Ki-moon in 2009.
Guterres also called for support to restore services, rebuild infrastructure, revive livelihoods and enable safe, voluntary and dignified returns of refugees and internally displaced people.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 13:51:59 UTC.
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The UN chief urged the immediate removal of all sanctions on Syria.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 12:46:33 UTC.
Update
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights.
The report says Israel deployed in the buffer zone in 2024 after Bashar al-Assad was ousted and has carried out strikes and incursions deeper into Syrian territory.
Israeli officials have said they intend to keep forces in a security zone in southern Syria.
Guterres said the UN was ready to support transitional justice, a permanent constitution and free and fair elections in Syria.
A statement from President Ahmed al-Sharaa's office said his meeting with Guterres addressed humanitarian and development cooperation, early recovery and reconstruction.
State media reported that Guterres visited Damascus's Old City and the Umayyad Mosque.
A UN official said Guterres met members of the UN peacekeeping force deployed in the Golan and visited Sednaya prison.
The report says Israel and Syria's new authorities have held direct talks and agreed to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism.
The UN says about 1.7 million refugees have returned to Syria, while around 5.5 million people remain displaced inside the country, six million remain overseas, and 15.6 million people need humanitarian assistance.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 16:50:20 UTC.
Update
Antonio Guterres was making his first visit to Syria under the new authorities and was the first UN chief to visit Syria since Ban Ki-moon in 2009.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani called for Israeli forces to withdraw from a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights.
Guterres said the UN was ready to support Syria's political transition, including transitional justice, a permanent constitution and elections.
A statement from President Ahmed al-Sharaa's office said his meeting with Guterres covered humanitarian and development cooperation, early recovery and reconstruction.
Guterres visited Damascus's Old City and the Umayyad Mosque, and was also due to meet civil society representatives, NGOs supporting women's issues and the UN peacekeeping force in the Golan.
The source reports UN figures saying 1.9 million internally displaced people and 1.7 million refugees have returned since Assad's ouster, while 5.5 million people remain displaced inside Syria, six million remain overseas and 15.6 million need humanitarian assistance.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 14:17:30 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source does not give details of which sanctions remain in place or what specific steps would be needed to remove them.
The reported Israeli incursion and shelling are attributed to Syrian state media in the source item.
Source
AFP news report published on .