BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 25. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is visiting Syria in what he described as a mission of solidarity, a trip that also represents a significant diplomatic endorsement of President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the country's new leadership.
During his visit, Guterres is expected to hold a series of high-level meetings with Syrian officials before traveling to the Golan Heights to meet United Nations peacekeeping forces stationed in the area.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions in southern Syria, where Israel has repeatedly carried out military incursions and established what it describes as new security zones beyond the 1974 disengagement line.
According to reports from Damascus, Syrian authorities have significantly increased security measures across the capital, particularly around the People's Palace and Tishreen Palace, where Guterres has already met President al-Sharaa.
The planned visit to the Golan Heights is regarded as one of the most sensitive parts of the UN chief's itinerary due to ongoing security concerns. Recent Israeli military operations in the governorates of Daraa and Quneitra have contributed to growing instability in the region.
Syrian authorities say they are taking extensive precautions to ensure the safe movement of the UN secretary-general throughout his visit.
The trip highlights the United Nations' continued engagement with Syria at a time of evolving political and security dynamics across the country.
