Barrack clarifies Golan remarks, reaffirms Trump policy
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack on Sunday clarified remarks in which he said Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights violated United Nations resolutions, stressing that his comments did not signal a change in Washington’s policy recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the territory.
Barrack, who also serves as U.S. ambassador to Turkey, told The Associated Press on Sunday that his previous comments were intended to describe the historical status of the Golan Heights and were “not an endorsement of the United Nations’ position.”
“United States policy on the Golan was set by President Trump in 2019 and is unchanged,” Barrack said.
His clarification followed remarks made on Aug. 21 during an interview with Lebanese-Australian entrepreneur Mario Nawfal, in which Barrack said Israel “still occupies the Golan against the UN resolutions” and described the territory as Syrian under the international order.
The comments appeared to contradict the policy established by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, when Washington formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Barrack said his reference to the territory was intended to illustrate how land seized through military force can remain disputed for generations. He also said he was explaining why he did not expect Israel to annex additional territory in Lebanon, where Israeli forces remain deployed in parts of the country’s south following the latest war with Hezbollah.
The envoy’s initial remarks drew criticism in Washington, including from Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who said Barrack appeared to have “forgotten” Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan.
The clarification comes as Barrack has been involved in broader regional discussions, including efforts related to Syria, Lebanon and Israel.
In his earlier comments, Barrack had also questioned how long Israeli military incursions into Syrian territory could continue before regional tensions begin to ease, while discussions over a possible security arrangement between Syria and Israel remain underway.
He also criticized Israeli strikes on a military airbase in northern Syria, which Israeli officials said were aimed at preventing Turkey from establishing a military presence there.
Barrack additionally moved to clarify separate remarks concerning negotiations over Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
After saying there were “two people missing” from the negotiating table — Hezbollah and Iran — Barrack said Sunday that he was not proposing their participation in negotiations.
“Hezbollah is a designated foreign terrorist organization. We do not negotiate with it, and nothing I said suggests otherwise,” he told AP.
Barrack said he was instead highlighting the difficulty of addressing Hezbollah’s weapons, which he said are supplied and financed by Iran.
His clarification underscores the sensitivity surrounding the Golan Heights, whose status remains internationally disputed, while U.S. policy continues to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory under Trump’s 2019 decision.