Syria: UN chief Guterres meets Syrian president during landmark Damascus visit.

SHOTLIST: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JULY 25, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES ARRIVING/ GUTERRES SHAKING HANDS WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT AHMED AL-SHARAA/ GUTERRES AND AL-SHARAA SHAKING HANDS AND POSING FOR PHOTO/ GUTERRES SHAKING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS DAMASCUS, SYRIA - JULY 25, 2026: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Saturday at the People's Palace in Damascus during his landmark visit to the country, Alikhbariah TV reported. The broadcaster said the meeting between al-Sharaa and Guterres began shortly after the UN chief arrived in the Syrian capital on a three-day visit. He was received at Damascus International Airport by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. Further details were not immediately available. The visit marks the first by a UN secretary-general to Damascus since former UN chief Ban Ki-moon traveled to the Syrian capital in 2009. After his arrival, Guterres said “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.”