US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Tom Barrack’s formal mandate as US Special Envoy for Syria will expire, prompting him to exit the post. Barrack will still maintain a leading diplomatic role managing policy for Syria and Iraq, with Rubio citing his expertise, relationships, and alignment with the “America First” agenda. Barrack has served as the administration’s primary envoy to Syria since May 2025 while also serving as US ambassador to Turkiye. His formal title expired, but he remains Washington’s lead on Syria, Iraq, and Turkiye, and the change is expected to preserve continuity rather than restart Syria policy. During his yearlong tenure, he oversaw a pivot toward the post-Assad administration led by interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, influenced policy by pushing for easing heavy economic sanctions on Damascus, and coordinated counter-Islamic State operations with allies including Turkiye and Gulf Arab states. He raised substantial capital from Emirati sovereign funds.
"US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Barrack will step down from his post following the expiration of his formal mandate, but he is set to maintain a central diplomatic role managing policy for Syria and Iraq."
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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