UN envoy arrives in Syria for discussions

UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura arrived in the capital Damascus on Thursday for meetings with top Syrian officials on several points regarding the long-running Syrian conflict, sources said.

The visit aims to inform the Syrian leadership of the latest results of the Mistura's recently regional visits and talks, as well as the extended Geneva discussions on the Syrian conflict.

Last month, the envoy visited Syria and briefed Damascus that he was going to extend the discussions with influential players in the Syrian crisis.

Last May, Mistura began one-on-one discussions in Geneva with Syrian delegations, including government officials, opposition parties, and representatives of some other countries in the region which have influence in the course of the conflict.

Mistura is also expected to address his concerns on the heavy shelling by government forces on the city of Zabadani near the Lebanese borders.

He has recently said the shelling has affected civilians living in that contested city, where the government forces, backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah, are engaged in heavy fighting to dislodge the al-Qaida-linked militant groups from that city.

The special envoy is working to finalize his proposals to the UN secretary-general on a way forward to support Syrian parties in their search of a political solution to the conflict. He will be briefing to the Security Council next week in New York. Endit