US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially announced the end of the duties of the US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, as the United States Special Envoy to Syria.
In a post on the “X” platform, Rubio stated that the expiration of Barrack’s mission under this title does not mean he will step away from the region’s files, emphasizing that he will continue to play a prominent leading role within US President Donald Trump’s administration regarding the Syria and Iraq portfolios.
The US Secretary of State praised the significant role played by Barrack, describing it as “invaluable,” and noting that his expertise, deep relationships, and understanding of the “America First” agenda will continue to achieve political gains for Washington in the region.
Tom Barrack (an American investor and politician of Lebanese descent) was appointed as his country’s ambassador to Turkey in May 2025, and concurrently assumed the position of Special Envoy in charge of the Syrian file.
Rubio did not provide additional details regarding the nature of the new role Tom Barrack will assume, or who will take over the duties of the US Special Envoy to Syria in the coming phase.
Commenting on the end of his duties, the Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdulrahman, said that Tom Barrack is the worst envoy to Syria and effectively works for the Damascus government, after providing political and media cover for Ahmed al-Sharaa, despite the violations and crimes committed against the Syrian people.
Abdulrahman stated that Tom Barrack betrayed the Kurds, Alawites, Druze, and humanity when he used to describe Ahmed al-Sharaa as a great human being, at a time when his forces were committing massacres against the Alawites in the coastal region, violations and crimes against the Druze in Suwayda, and dangerous practices, violations, and crimes against the Kurds in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, in addition to blatant violations of human rights.
Abdulrahman pointed out that “Barrack’s statements implied as if Ahmed al-Sharaa were Nelson Mandela or an international revolutionary, and this rhetoric contributed to cementing the elimination of any hope for the establishment of a true democratic state in Syria.”
Abdulrahman noted that “Tom Barrack tried to promote the narrative that describes what happened in Suwayda as mere fighting between the Bedouins and the Druze, whereas the facts confirm that serious crimes and violations were committed on the ground.”
Abdulrahman concluded by saying, “The United States had previously announced a reward for al-Sharaa’s head; if it turns out that the former US Ambassador sat down with al-Sharaa years ago and gave him public relations lessons, this confirms that not everything said is the truth, and not everything announced is fully revealed.”
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version: Click here
