ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A delegation from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday arrived in Syria, one year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. They met with Syrian leader.
The unprecedented visit to Syria comes amid rising tensions and growing demands from minority communities for a decentralized system of governance.
“We are undertaking this visit at a critical time for the region and for both countries [Syria and Lebanon]. A year has passed since the fall of the Assad regime, and the new authorities are working to form a transitional government,” Samuel Zbogar, the Council president for December, told Rudaw on Monday.
Zbogar is also the permanent representative of Slovenia at the UNSC. He said that Syria will feature prominently on the Council’s agenda during Slovenia’s presidency.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) published photos of the convoy of the delegation arriving in the country.
The delegation met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
SANA cited an unnamed Syrian official on Wednesday as saying the visit "could help restore public trust in the Security Council after years during which Syrians suffered from crimes committed by the deposed regime."🔴LIVE | A delegation from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. https://t.co/Nue0FvmNB2
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) December 4, 2025
Syrian Kurds, Alawites, and Druze have all called for a federal system in Damascus. While the transitional government initially rejected any moves toward decentralization, it has since softened its stance.
Negotiations between Kurdish authorities in north and east of Syria (Rojava) and Damascus regarding the future of the Kurdish-administered region are ongoing, with most discussions taking place behind closed doors.
Zbogar noted on Monday that the Council will not intervene in internal debates over minority demands for self-governance.
“I think this is an issue that Syria itself must decide,” he said.
SANA also cited the Syrian official as saying there is a growing international recognition of Syrian sovereignty.
The transitional government in Damascus has been attempting to redraw the country's image in the international view but these efforts have been harmed by mass killings against the Druze and Alawites earlier this year.
The Syrian official told SANA that the delegation will hold meetings with the committees responsible for the fact-checking investigations on the mass killings.
