'Golan Heights belongs to Syria': UN will work to return region to Syrian control, Guterres says

ByRUBY SADIKMANJULY 26, 2026 12:39Updated: JULY 26, 2026 13:37The United Nations recognizes the Golan Heights as part of Syria, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, condemning Israel's actions in the region during his visit to Damascus on Saturday. "I’d like to remind the international community that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory," he said. "Violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable and must cease."Guterres' comments came during a Saturday press conference alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shaibani after being welcomed to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's palace. The Damascus appearance is part of the first visit to Syria by a UN chief since 2009, before the civil war that dismantled the Assad regime. The secretary-general went on to describe "a future defined by peace, dignity, and opportunity by the Syrians themselves," in reference to the Golan Heights.He recognized the UN's absence from the region, calling it a "conscious decision not to come to Syria since the beginning of the brutal repression of the Syrian people in 2011 until the fall of the regime.”Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) and Syrian officials receive UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (2nd R) at the People's Palace in Damascus on July 25, 2026. (credit: Bakr ALKASEM / AFP via Getty Images)The moment for 'partnership and solidarity' with SyriaGuterres then urged the international community to take a more active role in mitigating Israel's involvement in Syria while pledging continued UN advocacy on the issue. In his opinion, now's the time for "partnership and solidarity."He covered a plethora of other topics in his address, including underscoring the need for post-war reconstruction and promising the UN's support in that process. "No country emerges from a very severe conflict and rebuilds itself on its own," Guterres said. "We have no UN agenda for Syria. Our agenda is the agenda of the Syrian government and the Syrian people."Guterres is expected to continue his talks with Sharaa and other senior officials. He is also slated to be scheduled to speak with women’s groups, civil society representatives, and members of various communities.On Monday, Guterres is expected to address the Syrian parliament, before concluding his trip and heading to Cyprus.Follow us on Google