Tom Barrack

'We'll fight side by side in Rojava,' Kurdistan Freedom Party leader tells 'Post' - interview

The Office of General Yazdanpanah criticised Western inaction regarding the situation for the Kurds in Syria, continuing: “Rojava will fall if we Kurds don’t consider their struggle as ours.”

|BySUSAN QUITAZ
GENERAL HUSSEIN Yazdanpanah of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) in front of PAK troops.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces, Damascus, January 18, 2026.

Syrian government, SDF agree on immediate ceasefire on all fronts, state media says

Syrian state media reported that Damascus and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces reached an immediate ceasefire after days of clashes in Kurdish-held areas of the northeast.

|ByREUTERS, JAMES GENN
Members of the Kurdish Internal Security Forces known as "Asayish", and residents rally during a demonstration against the attacks by the Syrian government forces and in support of Kurdish fighters in Qamishli, the main Kurdish city in the country's northeast on January 18, 2026.

Kurdish commander calls on US to 'intervene forcefully' in Syria clashes

The head of the YPG warned that only the US or its coalition partners can halt Syria’s advance into Kurdish-held territory, as government forces seize key towns and energy sites.

|ByREUTERS, JAMES GENN
Security forces affiliated with the Ministry of the Interior stand guard in the Ashrafieh neighbourhood, which they have taken control of, according to the Interior Ministry, following battles with the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 9, 2026.

Aleppo’s Kurdish neighborhoods fall, and Syria’s minority question resurfaces - analysis

Clashes grew in the first days of January 2026, and now Syrian security forces have taken over most of the Kurdish neighborhoods, causing many Kurds to flee and also leading to abuses against Kurds.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Israel demands Lebanon buffer zone, agrees to tone down Hezbollah strikes - report

Israel reportedly insisted that several villages on the border remain without residents and act as a buffer zone, which countered Tom Barrack's proposals.

AUGUST 23, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
IDF troops operate in southern Lebanon. January 23, 2025.

Druze spiritual leader meets with US envoy to Syria and Lebanon in Paris

Sheikh Tarif requested that the United States work to fully implement the ceasefire agreement in a complete and immediate manner in the Druze Mountain region of Syria.

AUGUST 19, 2025ByYOAV ETIEL
People hold a Druze flag, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025.

Lebanon approves US-backed Hezbollah disarmament proposal

The plan sets out the most detailed steps yet for disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has rejected mounting calls to disarm since last year's war with Israel.

AUGUST 7, 2025ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A man reacts as people gather near the burial site of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in Israel airstrikes last year, on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon February 23, 2025.

Lebanon's cabinet meets to discuss Hezbollah's arms after US pressure

Pressure from the US and Hezbollah's domestic rivals for the group to relinquish its arms has spiked following last year's war with Israel.

AUGUST 5, 2025ByREUTERS
(Illustrative) Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, hold up weapons as they rally to show support to Palestinians and Lebanon's Hezbollah in Sanaa, Yemen November 8, 2024.

Lebanon can’t get past talk of Hezbollah disarmament - analysis

"The government and Hezbollah need to fully commit and act now in order to not consign the Lebanese people to the stumbling status quo," Barrack wrote.

JULY 28, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
US special envoy for Syria, the ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a flag-raising ceremony at the US ambassador's residence in Damascus on May 29, 2025 for the first time since 2011.

SDF leader meets French foreign minister as Paris prepares Syria negotiations - analysis

French foreign minister reaches out to Syrian Democratic Forces as Paris also juggles discussions with Turkey and Israel regarding key issues in Syria.

JULY 27, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, attends an interview with Reuters in al-Shadadi, Syria June 13, 2025.

Syrian, Israeli officials discuss de-escalation in Paris meeting, US envoy says

"Our goal was dialog and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that," Barrack said in a statement on social media website X.

JULY 25, 2025ByREUTERS
Druze residents protest near the Israeli-Syrian border fence in solidarity with their community in Syria, July 16, 2025.

Israel's Dermer to meet Syrian FM, US envoy Barrack in Paris to discuss southern Syria

Dermer will also discuss the upcoming Iranian nuclear negotiations with European officials, ahead of the talks between European nations and Iran that will take place in Istanbul.

JULY 24, 2025ByAMICHAI STEIN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer; illustrative.

US warns Syria's Sharaa that 'there is no plan B for his government'

US envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack warned Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa that the country needs to recalibrate its policies, pointing out there is "no plan B."

JULY 22, 2025ByREUTERS
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025.

US tries to claw back influence in Middle East after crisis in Syria - analysis

US Special Envoy to Syria Ambassador Thomas J. Barrack has been under a spotlight in the last two weeks as US policy continues to face challenges.

JULY 22, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
US special envoy for Syria, the ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a flag-raising ceremony at the US ambassador's residence in Damascus on May 29, 2025 for the first time since 2011.