New Envoy to Syria Aims to Locate Missing Americans
President Donald Trump has appointed Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, as a special envoy for Syria, with a focus on helping the new Syrian government find Americans who have gone missing in the conflict-ridden country.
On Friday, Trump made this announcement, coinciding with a temporary easing of sanctions against Syria.
“As a representative of President Trump on this matter, I’m excited to take on the role of U.S. Special Envoy for Syria. Working alongside Secretary Rubio, we aim to fulfill the President’s vision,” Barrack stated in a post on social media.
This decision follows Trump’s declaration about the sanctions. He noted that lifting some of these restrictions would help achieve the essential goal of defeating ISIS while providing better opportunities for the Syrian people. In this context, collaboration with regional partners, including Turkey and Gulf states, is emphasized to aid in restoring peace in Syria.
“We hope the suspension of sanctions will support our main objective – ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS, and offer the Syrian population a chance for a brighter future,” Trump explained.
In a recent tweet, Barrack shared that after discussions with the new Syrian leader, Ahmed Alshara, the government has agreed to assist in locating missing Americans.
“It’s a significant step forward. The new Syrian administration has committed to helping find and return U.S. citizens, or their remains. Families like those of Austin Teis, Majid Kamalmaz, and Kayla Mueller deserve closure,” he wrote.
He also highlighted the importance that President Trump places on this issue, asserting that the efforts to find these individuals are a top priority for the administration.
Among those missing are three specific Americans and eleven other Syrian Americans, according to reports.
Barrack lauded Alshara for making strides on issues like foreign terrorist fighters and anti-ISIS strategies and expressed optimism about U.S.-Syria relations under his leadership.
Alshara, who took power earlier this month following a major offensive against the Assad regime, is a former Al-Qaeda member who has repositioned himself as a moderate, open to working with the United States. The Trump administration appears to be shifting towards engaging with this new leadership in an effort to enhance stability in the region.
