Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Syria foreign minister calls for Israeli withdrawal during Guterres meeting
Syria's foreign minister called for an immediate Israeli withdrawal during a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The call came during Guterres's visit to Syria, where he urged international support for the country as it goes through a transition after years of war and the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The earlier report said Guterres was the first UN chief to visit Syria since Ban Ki-moon in 2009.
Update
Syria's foreign minister called for an immediate Israeli withdrawal during a meeting with the UN chief.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 11:16:39 UTC.
Update
Guterres is the first UN chief to visit Syria since Ban Ki-moon in 2009.
State media reported that Guterres met President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace after visiting Damascus's Old City.
Images appeared to show Guterres at the Umayyad Mosque.
Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received Guterres and his delegation at Damascus airport.
Guterres is set to meet Syrian civil society and non-governmental organisations supporting women's issues.
Guterres is set to visit a UN peacekeeping force stationed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 1974.
The source adds UN figures on returns, displacement and humanitarian needs in Syria.
The source adds context on Israeli troop movements, strikes, incursions and direct talks with Syria's new authorities.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 08:47:15 UTC.
Update
Guterres said on X that he had arrived in Damascus for a visit of solidarity.
Guterres said the UN stands with Syria at a pivotal moment.
Guterres appealed to the international community to spare no effort to support the Syrian people.
The source states that Syria is in transition after years of war and the 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 08:05:49 UTC.
Update
The UN chief appealed for international support for Syria.
The appeal described Syria as being at a pivotal moment.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 07:59:34 UTC.
Update
Guterres is on a three-day visit to Syria.
His spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres would stress support for Syria's transition and the UN role in supporting Syrians.
UN special envoy Claudio Cordone said the visit would reaffirm UN support at a defining period in Syria's history.
Guterres is expected to meet President Ahmed al-Sharaa, civil society representatives and NGOs supporting women's issues.
Guterres is expected to address Syria's new transitional parliament, which held its first session earlier this month.
Guterres is also expected to visit the UN peacekeeping force in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The report adds context on Israeli military activity in southern Syria and direct talks between Israel and Syria's new authorities.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 05:41:25 UTC.
Update
State news agency SANA reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received Guterres and his delegation at Damascus international airport.
The visit is described as a three-day visit.
Guterres is set to reaffirm support for Syria's transition during the visit.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 05:15:14 UTC.
Update
State media reported that the UN chief has arrived in Syria.
The AFP item describes the visit as the first by a UN chief to Syria since before the civil war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 05:09:02 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source item does not state the specific area from which Syria's foreign minister called for Israeli withdrawal.
Source
AFP news report published on .