U.S. to appoint ambassador to Turkey as special envoy to Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United States is set to appoint its current ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, as its special envoy to Syria, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
A diplomatic source in Turkey told Reuters that the United States will appoint Thomas Barrack, the current U.S. ambassador to Turkey and a close friend of President Donald Trump, as a special envoy to Syria.
In response to a request for comment on Barrack’s potential appointment, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said, “There is no announcement at this time.”
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that embassy staff in Turkey, including Barrack, had been authorized to work with local officials in Syria to assess the types of aid they need.
Thomas Barrack, the grandson of Lebanese immigrants, holds a B.A. from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from the University of San Diego.
President Donald Trump nominated Barrack for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey in March 2025, and the Senate confirmed his appointment in April 2025.