Barrack tells X user that Washington favors Damascus in Suwayda dispute

Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy to Syria and Iraq, told a prominent social media commentator on Friday that Washington prefers the Syrian government to maintain control over the southern governorate of Suwayda. Barrack, who also serves as the U.S. ambassador to Turkiye, specifically referenced a local Druze sheikh, believed to be Hikmat al-Hijri, during the conversation with Australian creator Mario Nawfal. This public positioning suggests the U.S. is distancing itself from Israeli efforts to cultivate influence among Druze armed groups in the region.

Suwayda has become a focal point of tension between Damascus and Israel since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024. The majority Druze governorate remains one of the few areas where the central government lacks full authority. The conflict intensified in July 2025 when sectarian fighting between Bedouin tribes and Druze residents resulted in heavy casualties. Israel intervened during the clashes, attacking Syrian government forces and subsequently seeking to build relationships with local leaders like al-Hijri.

The U.S. approach contrasts sharply with that of Israel, which has seized land in Quneitra governorate and bombed the Syrian Ministry of Defence. Navvar Saban, a researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, noted that Barrack's comments sent a distinct signal to Jerusalem. "Israel backing [al-Hijri] does not equal American backing," Saban said. "Washington has prioritised an agreement with Damascus while Israel retains its own security demands and relationship."

President Donald Trump has cultivated a strong relationship with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, viewing stability as essential for a nation rebuilding after 13 years of war. Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst who visited Suwayda in September, observed that the U.S. is developing a partner in Damascus, whereas Israel appears to favor a weaker central government. "Washington is building a partner in Damascus while Israel appears to prefer a Damascus that is too weak to assert itself in the south," Hawach said.

A trilateral agreement signed in Amman in September 2025 established a framework for resolving the crisis. The deal stipulates that Syria will invite an independent international commission to investigate the July 2025 killings and hold perpetrators accountable. However, the province remains in a state of deadlock, with many residents feeling the pressure of government reassertion through salary adjustments and administrative changes.

Analysts argue that trust in Damascus will return only through direct service and credible accountability. Saban emphasized that a durable settlement requires guarantees for the protection of movement, education, and security for the Druze community. He noted that neither weakening al-Hijri nor simply restoring government institutions will be sufficient to rebuild the fractured trust in the region.

Barrack has earned a reputation for his direct diplomatic style, once describing some media members in Lebanon as "animalistic" last year. His recent remarks reinforce the U.S. stance that the Syrian government should lead the reconstruction of the south, rather than relying on external proxies or local militias linked to regional powers.