UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Syria, marking his first trip under the country’s new leadership after years of conflict, and emphasized the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty. He appealed for increased international support to assist Syria’s transition period as it recovers from civil war. During the visit, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Israel deployed troops there in 2024 following the removal of Bashar al-Assad from power. Guterres specifically called for an end to what he termed Israeli violations within Syria’s borders. The visit underscores the UN’s engagement with the evolving political landscape in Syria and the ongoing concerns regarding regional security.