Visiting UN chief urges respect for Syria's sovereignty, international support

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged respect for Syria's sovereignty and called for international support during his visit following years of civil war, emphasizing the need to end Israeli violations and withdraw forces from the Golan Heights buffer zone.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for an end to Israeli violations in Syria and urged international support for the country's transition on his first visit under the new authorities following years of civil war. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where they deployed in 2024 after the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.