UN chief says any Syria territorial violation 'unacceptable'

Territorial integrity warnings

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday declared that any violation of Syria's territorial integrity is unacceptable, stressing that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights remains Syrian territory and calling for Security Council action to halt Israeli violations. Speaking alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani at a Damascus news conference, the UN chief emphasized that the UN remains committed to Syria's sovereignty and independence, noting that what belongs to the Syrians cannot be taken away from them.

Historic Damascus visit

Guterres arrived in the Syrian capital earlier Saturday for a three-day visit, his first to the country since former UN chief Ban Ki-moon traveled to Damascus in 2009. The secretary-general met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the People's Palace and toured the Umayyad Mosque and the city's Old Quarter, accompanied by Syria's permanent representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi.

Posting on the social media platform X upon arrival, Guterres stated: "My message is clear: The UN stands with Syria at this pivotal moment & I appeal to the international community to spare no effort to support the people of Syria as well." He noted that Syrians had endured years of hardship during the protracted civil war but demonstrated resilience and innovation throughout the crisis, adding that Damascus now faces a period of both recovery and investment.

UNDOF monitoring mission

The secretary-general's itinerary includes a field visit to the UN Disengagement Observer Force stationed in the Golan Heights, where he will monitor commitments under the ceasefire agreement with Israel. No country can rebuild alone after severe conflict, Guterres said, adding that the UN looks forward to cooperating with Damascus and the broader international community to secure a prosperous future for the war-torn nation.