US envoy walks back Golan Heights remarks that contradicted Trump’s position

Middle East Monitor Middle East Monitor —

US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack in Damascus, Syria on September 16, 2025. [ Izz Aldien Alqasem - Anadolu Agency]https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AA-20250916-39131486-39131474-SYRIA_JORDAN_US_HOLD_TRILATERAL_TALKS_IN_DAMASCUS_ON_SUWAYDA_CRISIS.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" width="1200" />
US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack on Sunday walked back remarks he made two days earlier, in which he said Israel “continues” to occupy the Golan Heights in violation of United Nations resolutions.

The remarks contradicted US President Donald Trump’s position on the disputed territory.

Israel seized the Syrian Golan Heights during the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981.

The United Nations and most of the international community regard the area as occupied Syrian territory and do not recognise Israel’s annexation.

READ: Syria warns continued Israeli attacks fuel regional tensions, demands UN action In 2019, Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the territory, reversing decades of US policy.

On Friday, Ambassador Barrack said Israel […]

Read full article at Middle East Monitor →