United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for a three-day visit. This marks the first trip to Syria by a serving U.N. chief since the start of a nearly 14-year war that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. He is the first UN chief to visit the country since his predecessor, Ban Ki-moon, visited in 2009, two years before the civil war began.
During his visit, Guterres is expected to reaffirm support for the multi-confessional country's efforts to rebuild after more than a decade of bloody civil war. As part of his itinerary, the UN chief will meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was under UN Security Council sanctions until last year.
Secretary-General Guterres has also appealed to the international community to provide support for the people of Syria.