US Envoy Barrack Says Washington Favors Damascus Control in Suwayda Standoff

Tom Barrack, the US special envoy to Syria and Iraq, indicated that Washington supports the Syrian government’s authority over Suwayda rather than local militias aligned with Israel. The envoy made these remarks during a conversation with Mario Nawfal, an Australian social media personality, on Friday. This statement clarifies a growing distance between US and Israeli positions on the future of southern Syria.

Barrack specifically referenced a prominent Druze sheikh in the region, widely identified as Hikmat al-Hijri. Al-Hijri leads the National Guard, a Druze armed group that observers accuse of receiving support from Israel. The envoy’s comments suggest the US prefers a unified state over a fragmented south that relies on an Israeli-linked figure.

The US position contrasts sharply with the approach of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel has taken direct military action in Syria. Israeli forces invaded Quneitra governorate and seized other strategically important areas. They have also bombed the Ministry of Defence and detained Syrians in the south, actions that have drawn strong criticism from Damascus.

Navvar Saban, a researcher in security and military affairs at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, noted that the message from Barrack was clear. He stated that Israeli backing for al-Hijri does not equate to American support. According to Saban, Washington has prioritized an agreement with Damascus while Israel maintains its own security demands and regional relationship.

Suwayda, a majority Druze governorate, remains one of the last areas where the Syrian government lacks full control. Tensions escalated in July 2025 when fighting between Bedouin tribes and Druze residents turned into deadly sectarian killings. Reports indicated that forces connected to the government joined the Bedouins, resulting in heavy casualties among the Druze community. Israel intervened in that conflict, attacking Syrian government forces entering the province.

Since the July 2025 violence, Israel has attempted to build favor with local leaders in Suwayda, including al-Hijri. Hawach, a Syrian analyst who visited the region in September, said Israel appears to want a lasting military presence in the south. He argued that Israel uses Suwayda as a lever against Damascus, providing enough support to keep the province reliant on Israeli protection but not enough to secure its long-term future.

The United States began talks with the Syrian government in September 2025, hosted by Jordan, to resolve the crisis. A trilateral agreement was signed in Amman during that month. The document stipulated that Syria would invite an independent international commission to investigate the events of July 2025. It also required that perpetrators be brought to justice. This framework aims to rebuild trust through accountability rather than military pressure.

Despite the agreement, the situation in Suwayda remains in a deadlock. Many residents distrust the government due to pressure they feel in their salaries, education systems, and access to the capital. Saban said a durable settlement requires credible accountability for the 2025 events. He added that the Druze need guarantees for their movement, education, and security, and that neither weakening al-Hijri nor restoring government institutions alone will rebuild trust.