Key Facts

• Tom Barrack has been the US Special Envoy for Syria since May 2025 and also serves as the US ambassador to Turkiye.
• His formal envoy mandate is ending, but he will keep handling US policy for Syria, Iraq, and Turkiye.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Barrack’s work and confirmed his ongoing involvement.
• Barrack helped guide US policy toward Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and worked on easing economic sanctions on Damascus.
• He coordinated counter-Islamic State efforts with regional partners like Turkiye and Gulf Arab states.
• Barrack secured investments from Emirati sovereign funds for regional projects.
• His mediation efforts with Kurdish forces in Syria drew criticism, as some accused the US of abandoning Kurdish allies.
• Barrack’s leadership style and public statements have caused controversy in the Middle East and among some local groups.
• No successor for the Special Envoy to Syria has been announced yet.