For the first time in its nearly 80-year history, a United Nations Security Council delegation arrived in Syria, marking what many described as a pivotal moment for the war-torn nation. On December 4, 2025, representatives from all 15 member states of the Security Council descended on Damascus, pledging international support and signaling a new chapter for Syria, just days before the anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting.
The visit, described by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani as “a historic moment for rebuilding trust, with the support of the international community for the Syrian people,” comes amid wide-ranging efforts to stabilize the country after nearly 14 years of civil war. The timing was no accident: December 8, 2024, marked the fall of Assad’s regime following a swift and unexpected rebel offensive, ushering in a fragile but hopeful transitional period.
Slovenian UN ambassador Samuel Zbogar, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, addressed a press conference in Damascus, stressing the importance of the visit. “We reiterated our clear support for sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Syria,” Zbogar told reporters, according to AFP. He emphasized, “Our united message was simple and clear: We recognise your country's aspirations and challenges, and the path to a better future of new Syria will be Syria-led and Syria owned.”
The Security Council’s presence in Syria was more than symbolic. It represented a tangible shift in the international community’s approach to the country, which has long been the site of geopolitical contention and devastating violence. According to the state-run SANA news agency, the delegation’s itinerary included meetings with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa—a former Islamist insurgent leader whose forces played a decisive role in toppling Assad—along with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and other cabinet members.
Discussions ranged from justice and reconciliation to political inclusivity, reconstruction, economic development, and counterterrorism. Zbogar explained that the delegation also addressed the “need for Syria not to be the source of threat to the security of other countries,” a nod to regional anxieties about Syria’s potential as a breeding ground for extremism and instability.
The Security Council’s visit was not limited to high-level political talks. The delegation met with communities from the Syrian coast and the southern Sweida province—areas that bore the brunt of sectarian violence earlier in the year. Hundreds from the country’s Alawite and Druze minority communities were reportedly killed in these clashes, underscoring the persistent volatility and the urgent need for reconciliation. The delegates also sat down with Syrian committees investigating these incidents, representatives of the commission for missing persons, religious leaders, and other civil society figures.
“I hope that today we made a step forward,” Zbogar remarked to journalists, as quoted in The Hindu. He described the mission as an effort to “build trust,” a sentiment echoed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric. Dujarric expressed hope that the visit would “increase the dialogue between the United Nations and Syria,” a relationship that has often been fraught with tension and mutual suspicion.
The symbolic weight of the Security Council’s presence was reinforced by the sites visited. The delegation toured Damascus’s historic Old City, renowned for its ancient architecture and cultural significance, as well as the heavily damaged suburb of Jobar—a stark reminder of the destruction wrought by years of conflict. According to SANA, these visits were intended to highlight both Syria’s rich heritage and the urgent need for reconstruction in areas devastated by war.
One of the more notable developments leading up to the visit was the Security Council’s recent decision to lift sanctions on Ahmed al-Sharaa. Once a jihadist commander, al-Sharaa’s forces were instrumental in the offensive that ended Assad’s rule. His subsequent appointment as interim president marked a dramatic turn in Syria’s political landscape, reflecting both the complexities and the possibilities of the transitional period.
The Security Council’s visit to Syria was also historic in a broader context. As Zbogar noted, “the visit to Syria and Lebanon is the first official visit of the Security Council to the Middle East in six years, the first visit to Syria ever.” The delegation planned to continue its regional tour with stops in neighboring Lebanon on December 5 and 6, 2025, at a time when Lebanon itself is navigating a delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a situation Zbogar described as “being challenged daily.”
Security Council visits are rare and require unanimous agreement among all 15 member states, a fact that underscores the significance of this mission. According to The Hindu, such visits are “rare because they require unanimous agreement among the 15 members,” highlighting the extraordinary nature of the current consensus on Syria’s transition.
The international community’s support, as articulated by Zbogar, is not without its caveats. The UN has consistently urged that Syria’s transition be inclusive, reflecting the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-confessional makeup. The delegation’s meetings with civil society and minority communities were an attempt to underscore this commitment, ensuring that the voices of those most affected by the conflict are heard in the ongoing national dialogue.
Yet, challenges remain. While the Security Council’s visit is a clear sign of renewed engagement, there is still “a bit of lack of trust in the UN-Syria relationship,” as Zbogar candidly admitted. The wounds of war, sectarian strife, and political upheaval are not easily healed, and the path to a stable, inclusive future will require sustained effort from both Syrians and the international community.
As the delegation prepared to depart for Lebanon, the mood in Damascus was one of cautious optimism. The visit had, at the very least, reopened channels of communication and signaled a willingness to work together toward Syria’s recovery. For many Syrians, the presence of the Security Council offered a glimmer of hope that, after years of isolation and conflict, the country might finally be turning a corner.
The true impact of this historic visit will only become clear in the months and years ahead. But for now, Syrians and observers alike are watching closely, hopeful that this rare display of international unity will translate into real progress on the ground.