U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack Ends Syria Envoy Role

Tom Barrack, the United States ambassador to Turkey, will step down from his formal role as the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria as his mandate expires, the Department of State announced. He will, however, retain a central role in shaping U.S. policy for both Syria and Iraq.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the change, stating that Barrack's special envoy designation is ending but that his diplomatic responsibilities are not. In a social media post, Rubio praised Barrack’s work and said the ambassador would continue to play a leading role for the administration in Syria and Iraq.

Barrack, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump and a billionaire real estate investor, was appointed as special envoy to Syria and Iraq in May 2025 while continuing to serve as ambassador to Turkey. During his tenure, he was a principal architect of the administration’s policy shift toward Syria following the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad. His work focused on engagement with the interim Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, overseeing efforts related to sanctions relief, coordinating counter-Islamic State operations with regional allies, and supporting reconstruction...