Trump Envoy Tom Barrack Faces Criticism Over Syria Policy

Tom Barrack, President Donald Trump's envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, is facing sharp criticism, not from Israel this time, but from within Trump's own inner circle.

Laura Loomer, a conservative activist considered close to the president, launched a public attack on the ambassador this week. In pointed social media posts, she reminded Barrack of the 2019 U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and called directly for his resignation.

"Ambassador Barrack should resign," Loomer wrote. "He doesn't understand American foreign policy and is supporting the wrong side." She accused him of ignoring Turkey's attempts to deploy Russian air defense systems and radar installations at bases in Syria, thereby acting against both American and Israeli interests.

"Erdogan's Man in Washington"

The criticism extends beyond political circles. The conservative New York Sun published a particularly harsh editorial in which Turkey researcher Sinan Ciddi described the ambassador as "his own man." The editorial went further, stating that Barrack sometimes acts "less like an ambassador and more like Erdogan's man in Washington."

The crisis stems from Barrack's recent statements about the Golan Heights. The ambassador claimed that Israel "still occupies the Golan" in violation of UN resolutions, remarks that directly contradict President Trump's historic March 2019 decision formally recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz quickly responded to the ambassador's comments. In an unusual statement released on Shabbat, Katz clarified that Barac's words were "full of inaccuracies" and frontally contradicted the position of the U.S. president himself. The statement came following an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur base in northern Syria.

The Struggle Over Syria and the Iranian Threat

Beyond diplomatic exchanges lies a deeper geopolitical struggle over shaping the Middle East. While Ambassador Barrack argues that Ankara has no interest in military confrontation and characterizes Israeli activity at Abu al-Duhur as "unnecessary escalation," Israel sees the reality quite differently.

Turkey has essentially become the Assad regime's right hand over the past few months, training Syrian soldiers, rebuilding infrastructure. And Jerusalem is worried about what comes next. If Turkey sets up permanent military bases here, it fundamentally reshapes how the region operates. But the real concern is the radar systems Turkey is bringing in, because they could could seriously hamper Israeli Air Force operations.

Barrack himself has previously acknowledged that Syria represents for Israel a critical air corridor "with a clear line of sight to Iran." Preventing foreign military entrenchment in the area is therefore a supreme Israeli interest in maintaining operational capability against the Iranian threat.

Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, addressed the Syria operation this week in succinct terms: "We have excellent intelligence. We will continue to defend Israeli citizens from our enemies." Akunis also praised the Trump administration's decision to impose sanctions on Iran, emphasizing the connection between combating Turkish influence in Syria and the struggle against Iran.

Diplomatic and Legal Escalation

The tension between Jerusalem and Ankara is not limited to the security arena. Turkey's Justice Ministry formally approached Interpol this week requesting a "red notice" against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials for "genocide" and crimes against humanity.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlak confirmed that the move is a direct continuation of arrest warrants issued in the country on July 14. The case involves an investigation of 35 Israeli suspects following Israeli Navy operations to intercept an international activist flotilla in Mediterranean waters.