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US envoy Tom Barrack retracts comment that Syria’s Golan is occupied
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- US Ambassador Tom Barrack initially stated that the Golan Heights is occupied Syrian territory, contradicting the official US policy established by President Trump recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the region.
- Barrack later retracted his comment, reaffirming that US policy on the Golan Heights remains unchanged since Trump's 2019 recognition of Israel's claim, a move that sparked international controversy.
- Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and annexed it in 1981, with no country recognizing this annexation until the US under Trump; President Biden did not reverse this stance during his term.
- Barrack also criticized Israeli air strikes on a Syrian airbase, suggesting they were intended to provoke Turkey ahead of US midterm elections, which drew further criticism from pro-Israel figures and politicians.
- The ambassador faced calls to resign from right-wing commentators and Republican senators for his remarks, which were seen as contradicting established US foreign policy on Israel and the Golan Heights.
