UN chief visit to Syria seen by Damascus as key step towards reconstruction after war - analysis

BySETH J. FRANTZMANJULY 25, 2026 19:47The UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Syria on Saturday, in an important visit that Damascus sees as transformative. It comes in the wake of Syria signing a new pipeline deal to link Iraq to the port of Baniyas and also comes after Syria’s president met US President Donald Trump.“I have just arrived in Damascus for a visit of solidarity,” Guterres said. “My message is clear: The UN stands with Syria at this pivotal moment, and I appeal to the international community to spare no effort to support the people of Syria as well.”Syrian state media SANA noted that Syria’s “Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and UN Secretary-General António Guterres pledged to deepen cooperation between Syria and the United Nations during talks in Damascus on Saturday, with reconstruction, recovery and Syria’s sovereignty dominating discussions.”Syrian state media also noted that the UN leader spoke at “a joint press conference at Tishreen Palace following an expanded meeting attended by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat, Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh, Central Bank Governor Safwan Raslan and Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ibrahim Olabi.”This is the first visit by a UN chief in 17 years. Syria was in a civil war from 2011 to 2024. Syria hopes to see UN and also IMF and other support for reconstruction and for Syria’s return to the international community. The US and others have worked to end sanctions on Syria. Syria is also working to re-establish air connections with numerous countries and commercial carriers.Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) and Syrian officials receive UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (3rd R) at the People's Palace in Damascus on July 25, 2026 (credit: Bakr ALKASEM / AFP via Getty Images)Syria prioritizes reconstruction as millions immigrate to the countryAround 3.5 million Syrians have returned to the country, Syria’s state media noted. “The government’s priority is rebuilding the country through legislative reforms while calling for the removal of all remaining restrictions that hinder reconstruction,” the SANA report said. “Al-Shaibani also said Syria had established a strategic model for peace by consolidating the state’s monopoly on the use of force and stressed that Israeli violations of Syrian territory pose a direct threat to regional security.”“Syria is creating opportunities for everyone and laying the foundations for a better future for all Syrians,” Guterres said. “The United Nations looks forward to cooperating with Syria in all areas and with the international community to support its future and prosperity,” Guterres added.Syria’s President Ahmed al Shara’a discussed Syria-UN cooperation as well. The UN was quick to begin to work with the new authorities in Damascus after the Assad regime fell. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher visited Damascus in December 2024.The news of the UN visit comes as Aleppo has said it is moving forward with restoration work on the UNESCO-listed Old City. Abdul Hamid Dahna, director of the Old City Directorate in Aleppo Governorate, told Syria’s Al-Ikhbariya TV “that restoration work is underway on five historic markets and several landmark buildings damaged during years of war.”Aleppo restoration plan targets historic markets and schoolsSANA further noted on the Aleppo restoration that “the projects, scheduled under the 2025-2026 restoration plan, include the rehabilitation of the Al-Attarin, Al-Battiya, Al-Sarmatiya, Istanbul and Al-Joukh markets. Crews are also clearing debris, reopening access routes and stabilizing damaged heritage structures, including the Shadbakhtiya and Halawiya schools. Restoration of the Halawiya School is expected to begin in 2027.”According to the report, the “Old City Directorate is working with the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums to ensure restoration complies with internationally recognized conservation principles while safeguarding the city’s historic character. Encouraging residents to return to the Old City remains a priority, he said, describing their presence as essential to restoring the area’s vitality.”The UN visit and Aleppo restoration are symbols of Syria’s return to the international community and its focus on reconstruction. Meanwhile, a new pipeline is supposed to connect Iraq to the port of Baniyas in Syria. "The United States has begun importing fuel oil of Iraqi origin shipped through Syria for the first time, according to shipping data and two sources familiar with the operations, as Iraq expands a Mediterranean export route established after disruptions to Gulf trade routes earlier this year,” Reuters added.In other news, Syria is also working to merge a large university, called Rojava University in eastern Syria, into Syria’s state institutions. In addition, Syria has graduated 1,000 new air force cadets. Also last week, Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab received Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires Jubeir Shallal Aqab to discuss cooperation.Follow us on Google