UN chief to visit Syria

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Syria later this week at the invitation of the government, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has said. “The visit will offer the secretary-general an opportunity to witness both the hope and the challenges of the political transition and recovery, as well as the impact of the enduring of years of conflict,” Dujarric told reporters in New York. Guterres will meet with President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and other government officials in Damascus and will “underscore the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, its unity, and its territorial integrity”, Dujarric added.