UN chief visits Damascus

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was received at Damascus International Airport by Foreign Minister al-Shaibani and held talks with Syrian officials during his visit. Guterres toured the former Sednayah Prison as part of his program in the capital, underscoring the diplomatic engagement between the UN and Syrian authorities.

Domestic events: sports, evacuations and tourism

Syria celebrated the U-17 women’s football team after their triumph in the West Asia Championship. In separate emergency operations, Army and Ministry of Defense helicopters evacuated victims of a Deir Ezzor–Damascus road accident and transported casualties from Palmyra Airport to hospitals in Homs. The ‘Discover Syria’ motorcycle rally also arrived in Homs as part of efforts to boost tourism around the country, highlighting a mix of humanitarian, diplomatic and public events during the period, as reported by SANA