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The UN’s Guterres condemned the violation of Syrian rights during his visit and called for the lifting of sanctions.
Published on 26 Jul 2026
The head of the United Nations has condemned the continuous violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian state, while the Israeli army is said to have carried out new elections in the territory of the neighbor.
Israeli forces went into the countryside of southwestern Syria on Sunday, setting up a checkpoint in Al-Ardah, where shelling was also heard nearby, the Syrian news agency SANA reported. Flyers were dropped warning people not to try to block Israeli traffic.
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The attack came as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on a visit to Syria, condemned Israel’s violations.
“The sovereignty, independence, unity and integrity of Syria must be fully respected,” he wrote. “Israel’s violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement are unacceptable and must stop.”
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, he said the UN must submit a full report to the UN Security Council on the matter by the end of the month.
‘Safety zone’
Israel has been doing it regularly attacking Syria since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.
Shortly after that, it seized the UN-protected area that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, saying the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria had collapsed.
Since then, Israel has been carrying out attacks, attacks, hunting, and establishing military checkpoints in Syria.
Israeli officials say they want to remain in southern Syria, which they call a “safe zone”.
Syria’s Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, called on Israel to withdraw from the safe zone on Saturday, saying that continued military action and occupation “is a direct threat to the security of the region”.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera’s Al Muqabala, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa he said Damascus is trying to reach a security agreement with Israel, involving the international community.
“If the security agreement with Israel is successful, it will pave the way for a comprehensive peace without recognizing Syrian independence in the Golan (the upper reaches),” he said.
He added that Syria has “no interest” in fighting Israel.
Guterres’ visit to Syria is the first by a United Nations chief since 2009. He is expected to visit the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has been deployed to the security center since 1974.
On Sunday, he described the country as an “opportune time” to return to its 13-year war, and create a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future.
The UN chief called for the lifting of all sanctions imposed on the country under al-Assad, who was ousted by al-Sharaa-led forces in 2024 after a decade of civil war.
“I welcome measures that have eased sanctions, opening new opportunities for economic recovery, but all sanctions must be lifted immediately,” Guterres said.
Western countries including the United States have begun to lift economic sanctions, but investors remain cautious. The World Bank has estimated that rebuilding the country after the war would cost $216bn.
“The United Nations stands with the Syrian people at this very important time. And I have come to ask the people of the world, a request to try to help the Syrian people and support the Syrian government,” said Guterres.
