U.S. Envoy Says Trump to Remove Syria from Terror List, Urges Dialogue with Israel
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said Thursday that President Donald Trump will soon announce the removal of Syria from Washington’s list of state sponsors of terrorism, signaling a major shift in U.S. policy amid renewed diplomatic engagement.
Barrack made the remarks during a press statement following his official meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace in Damascus. The envoy’s visit comes just one day after Trump’s formal announcement of his appointment to the role.
The high-level meeting included several senior Syrian officials, among them Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, and General Intelligence Chief Hussein Salama.
“The President’s vision is that the Syrian government deserves a chance to move forward without external interference,” Barrack said, adding that Washington is seeking a peaceful resolution to long-standing tensions between Syria and Israel.
He emphasized that a non-aggression agreement could serve as a foundation for broader discussions. “I believe we need to begin with a non-aggression pact between Syria and Israel and then move to border-related negotiations,” Barrack noted.
The development marks a rare moment of direct engagement between the U.S. and the Syrian government, which have had limited diplomatic contact since the outbreak of the conflict in 2011. Syria has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. since 1979, a classification that restricts aid, arms sales, and financial transactions.
Though no official timeline was provided, Barrack’s comments suggest the Trump administration is prepared to reconfigure its approach to Syria amid shifting dynamics in the broader Middle East.
The visit also comes as northeast Syria, governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), continues to host U.S. troops in partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as part of the ongoing campaign against ISIS remnants. While the AANES was not a party to the Damascus meetings, the region remains a critical actor in counterterrorism and regional stability efforts, often backed by U.S. military support.
Officials from the AANES have not commented on the developments in Damascus, though the Administration has consistently advocated for inclusive dialogue and recognition of governance structures that have emerged from the decade-long conflict.
No further meetings were announced following Barrack’s visit, but diplomatic observers note the trip could signal a new phase of U.S.-Syrian relations, pending policy decisions in Washington.