U.S. Envoy: Syria’s New Chapter is One of Cooperation, Not Confrontation

Reuters

U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack.

U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack urged all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to place the protection of civilian lives and property above all other considerations following deadly clashes in Aleppo.

In a statement posted on X, Barrack said the United States was closely monitoring the situation in the city.

“The United States is closely following developments in the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods of Aleppo with grave concern,” Barrack said. “We urge all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to place the protection of civilian lives and property above all other considerations.”

He said Syria had made significant progress in recent months despite the legacy of prolonged conflict.

“Over the past thirteen months, Syria has made historic strides toward stability, national reconciliation, and reconstruction following decades of devastating conflict,” Barrack said. “The landmark discussions held this week with Israeli representatives mark a pivotal step toward broader regional peace, underscoring Syria’s resolute commitment to breaking the cycle of violence, suffering, and atrocity that has afflicted their nation for more than half a century.”

Barrack stressed that lasting stability would require time, patience and inclusive dialogue.

“Profound transformations of this nature cannot be achieved overnight,” he said. “The deep scars of prolonged conflict require time to heal, and enduring progress demands patience, tolerance, and genuine mutual understanding across all segments of Syrian society. Nonetheless, we remain steadfast in the vision of a Syria that ensures full inclusion and equal rights for every citizen—Sunni, Kurd, Druze, Christian, Alawite, and all other communities—without exception.”

He also referred to ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening coordination between Syrian parties.

“Just this past week, we stood on the threshold of successfully concluding the March 10, 2025 integration agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government—an accord that would significantly advance security coordination, shared governance, and national unity,” Barrack said. “That objective remains eminently achievable.”

Barrack said the United States and its partners were prepared to support efforts to reduce tensions and promote dialogue.

“Together with our allies and responsible regional partners, we stand ready to facilitate efforts to de-escalate tensions and to afford Syria and its people a renewed opportunity to choose the path of dialogue over division,” he said.

He issued a direct appeal to all parties involved in the conflict to halt the fighting.

“We therefore issue an urgent appeal to the leadership of the Syrian government, SDF, local authorities in Kurdish-administered areas, and all armed actors on the ground: pause hostilities, reduce tensions immediately, and commit to de-escalation,” Barrack said. “Let us prioritize the exchange of ideas and constructive proposals over the exchange of fire. The future of Aleppo, and of Syria as a whole, belongs to its people and must be shaped through peaceful means, not violence.”

Barrack warned against attempts to undermine recent progress and reiterated Washington’s vision for the region.

“At this critical juncture, the region must stand united against disruptive external forces and their proxies that seek to undermine the remarkable progress achieved in the past year and to erode the enduring legacy of the President of the United States’ Middle East peace initiatives,” he said. “Their aim is renewed instability; ours is lasting peace grounded in mutual respect and shared prosperity.”

He concluded by emphasising a cooperative path forward for Syria.

“Syria’s new chapter is one of cooperation, not confrontation. We will reach it together,” he said.

Tensions between Syrian government forces and the internal security forces (Asayish) in Aleppo have been ongoing since Tuesday, with pro-government factions intensively shelling the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh Kurdish neighbourhoods, causing dozens civilian deaths and injuries.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported earlier on Thursday that the army had launched heavy and concentrated shelling on the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian army had released maps identifying areas in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh that residents were ordered to evacuate in preparation for military operations. Syrian authorities issued an ultimatum to civilians in the two predominantly Kurdish neighbourhoods, instructing them to leave their homes ahead of the resumption of shelling.

Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has warned that the deployment of tanks and the targeting of civilians in Aleppo are severely undermining prospects for negotiation, creating conditions for dangerous demographic changes and exposing entire neighbourhoods to the risk of massacres.



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