A United Nations Security Council delegation made a rare visit to Syria on Thursday, marking the first high‑level engagement with Syrian authorities since the ouster of former President Bashar al‑Assad in December 2024.
State news agency SANA said it was the first visit of its kind since the Security Council was founded in 1945. The delegation, representing all member states, toured sites in Damascus and met with Syrian leader Ahmad al‑Sharaa, foreign affairs chief Asaad al‑Shibani and other senior officials.
Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia’s UN envoy and Security Council president for December, said the mission aimed to “build trust” and addressed issues ranging from justice and reconciliation to humanitarian needs, economic development, political transition and counterterrorism. “We agreed with the president on the importance of the economic development and reconstruction of Syria,” he said.
The delegation also met UN representatives and communities affected by recent coastal incidents and violence in Sweida province. Zbogar described the talks as “enlightening, as much as painful to listen to,” but said they presented a clear picture of the situation.
The visit comes as Syria works to stabilize its political landscape and advance national dialogue following last year’s upheaval.