US Envoy Walks Back Golan Heights Comments, Reaffirms Trump’s Policy
US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack has walked back comments that Israel “still” occupies the Golan Heights, saying he was describing the territory’s historical status and not challenging US policy.
Barrack said Sunday that US policy on the Golan Heights remains unchanged. President Donald Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the territory in 2019, reversing decades of US policy. Barrack said his remarks were “not an endorsement of the United Nations’ position” and that Trump’s policy remains in place.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981. The UN and most of the international community consider the territory occupied Syrian land and do not recognise Israel’s annexation.
Barrack said he had mentioned the Golan while explaining why he does not expect territorial annexation to be the outcome of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. He argued that territory taken by force can remain disputed for generations and that negotiated agreements are more durable.
His comments came amid rising tensions between Israel, Syria and Turkiye after an Israeli strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase last week. Israel said the attack was aimed at preventing Turkiye from establishing a military presence there. Syria and Turkiye denied that Turkish forces were due to be deployed at the base.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz defended the strike, saying it was based on intelligence and warning that Israel would not allow Turkiye to establish itself in Syria in a way that threatens Israeli security.
The tensions have prompted US-mediated talks between Syria and Israel in Jordan. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met Israeli officials, including Mossad chief Roman Gofman, on Sunday to ease tensions and revive security negotiations.
Damascus wants Israel to end military activity in Syria, withdraw to positions held before December 2024 and restore the 1974 disengagement agreement. Syria continues to claim the Golan Heights but has said discussions on its final status are premature.
Barrack also clarified remarks about Iran and Hezbollah being absent from Israel-Lebanon negotiations. He said he was not proposing talks with Hezbollah, which the US designates as a foreign terrorist organisation, but was highlighting that weapons involved are supplied and financed by Iran.
The developments come as Washington seeks to maintain Trump’s Golan policy while preventing Israel-Turkiye tensions from escalating in Syria and encouraging dialogue between Israel and Syria.