US envoy says 'Israel' prefers fragmented Syria

The US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said Monday that 'Israel' prefers to see Syria fragmented and divided rather than unified under a strong central government.

Speaking in an interview with the Associated Press, Barrack explained that 'Israel' views strong nation-states, especially in the Arab world, as threats.

Barrack added that 'Israel' sees the area south of Damascus as a “disputed zone” where any military movement should be discussed and agreed upon with 'Israel', a stance not fully embraced by Syria’s new government.

He described the ceasefire announced last Saturday between Syria and 'Israel' as a “limited agreement” confined to the conflict in Sweida, excluding broader issues such as 'Israel’s' demand to demilitarize the area south of Damascus.

Regarding the ceasefire negotiations, Barrack said both sides “did what they could” to reach an agreement on specific issues involving Syrian troop and equipment movements from Damascus to Sweida. He noted, “Whether you accept Israeli intervention in a sovereign state or not is a different matter.”

Barrack also emphasized that minorities in Syria understand the benefits of unity under a central government despite the country’s complex diversity. He described the ongoing violence, revenge killings, and massacres from all sides as “unbearable.”

Regarding the Syrian government, Barrack said it has done what it could as an emerging state with extremely limited resources to manage the many challenges of uniting such a diverse society. He reaffirmed Washington’s support for Syria’s new government, stressing there is “no alternative” to working with it to unify the country still suffering from civil war and sectarian conflicts.

Later in a press conference in Beirut, Barrack stressed that Syrian authorities “must be held accountable” for what he called “violations,” though he did not specify the nature of the violations or who should be responsible for the accountability.

On Israeli strikes inside Syria, Barrack confirmed that the United States was neither consulted nor involved in the decision-making, nor responsible for 'Israel’s' actions, which it considers part of its self-defense.

However, he criticized the 'Israeli' military interventions as creating a “new and highly confusing divide,” arriving at a “very bad time,” adding to regional instability.