US Envoy Barrack Backs Damascus Control Over Suwayda in Dispute With Israel

US special envoy Tom Barrack indicated on Friday that Washington favors Syrian government control over the southern governorate of Suwayda. Barrack made the comments during an interview with Australian X personality Mario Nawfal. He referenced a specific Druze sheikh, widely identified as Hikmat al-Hijri, who leads a political and religious faction in the region. Barrack’s remarks suggest the United States does not view the local National Guard as a primary partner, despite Israel’s support for the group.

Suwayda is one of the few regions in Syria where the central government in Damascus lacks full control. The province is majority Druze. Tensions escalated in July 2025 after sectarian fighting between Bedouin tribes and Druze communities resulted in heavy casualties. Israel intervened during that conflict, attacking Syrian government forces entering the area. Since then, Israeli officials have engaged with local leaders like al-Hijri, who opposes the new leadership in Damascus.

The disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem follows the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Israel invaded southern Syria in the immediate aftermath, seizing land in Quneitra governorate and other strategic areas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains a distinct security posture in the region that differs from President Donald Trump’s approach. Trump has built a direct relationship with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, viewing stability in Syria as essential for the country’s reconstruction after 13 years of war.

Navvar Saban, a researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, noted that Barrack’s message was explicit. "Israel backing [al-Hijri] does not equal American backing," Saban said. He added that Washington has prioritized an agreement with Damascus while Israel retains its own security demands. Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst, observed that Washington is building a partner in Damascus, whereas Israel prefers a government weak enough to not assert itself in the south.

A trilateral agreement signed in Amman in September 2025 outlined a path for resolving the Suwayda crisis. The deal required Syria to invite an independent international commission to investigate the July 2025 events and ensure perpetrators face justice. Talks hosted by Jordan have continued since that signing. The agreement aims to restore trust between the Druze community and the state in Damascus.

Resident trust in the government remains low due to recent pressure tactics. Hawach noted that residents feel the state's presence first through salary adjustments and exam regulations. He argued that the state has a better chance of winning support by serving residents directly and pursuing accountability for the 2025 violence. Saban emphasized that a durable settlement requires credible accountability and guarantees for Druze movement, education, and security.

Barrack, who also serves as US ambassador to Turkiye, is known for his direct diplomatic style. He has previously used blunt language in regional engagements. His current stance places the United States in a visible divergence with Israel over the final status of southern Syria. The two nations continue to coordinate on broader regional security issues while managing their specific differences in Syria.