UN Security Council Delegation Makes Historic Visit to Syria

The delegation entered Syria through the Jdeidet Yabous crossing at the Lebanese border, where they met with several Syrian officials, including President Ahmad al-Shara. Lebanon is expected to be the next stop on their regional tour.
Upon arrival, the Security Council delegation proceeded to Jobar, one of the neighborhoods most affected during the years of conflict surrounding the capital, to assess the extent of destruction in residential areas and infrastructure.
This visit comes at a time when the United Nations is seeking to re-establish its presence in Syria, following a recent Security Council decision to lift sanctions imposed on President Ahmad al-Shara as part of a new political phase in the country.
At a press conference held last Monday, Slovenian UN Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, whose country holds the Security Council presidency this month, stated that this tour represents "the first official visit of the Security Council to the Middle East in six years, and the first ever to Syria."
He added that the visit occurs "at a crucial moment," referencing the efforts by Syrian authorities to establish a new phase in the country, as well as the ongoing challenges to maintain the ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah that has been in place for a year.
It is noteworthy that Syria is preparing to commemorate the first anniversary of Assad's regime's fall on December 8, while the new authorities focus on reconstruction issues and attempts to revive an economy severely impacted by 14 years of conflict.
