Barrack, who made headlines with his statements, makes a 'Syrian regime' remark: 'It has encouraged failure'

U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas J. Barrack addressed developments in Syria during an interview with Reuters while visiting Lebanon.

Barrack called on Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara to reorganize his policies and adopt a more inclusive approach due to the clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups in the Syrian city of As-Suwayda, stating that otherwise, al-Shara would face the risk of losing international support and seeing his country fragment.

Barrack noted that he advised al-Shara to review the elements within the structure of the Syrian army and to receive regional security assistance. Barrack said that if there is no rapid change in post-war Syria, al-Shara faces the risk of losing the momentum that allowed him to come to power.

"SYRIAN TROOPS DID NOT ENTER THE CITY"

Barrack stated that the al-Shara government should consider being "more inclusive and faster" in integrating minorities into the administrative structure. Opposing reports that Syrian security forces were responsible for violations against Druze civilians in As-Suwayda, Barrack suggested that members of the terrorist organization ISIS might have been wearing Syrian army uniforms. Barrack said, "Syrian troops did not enter the city. This atrocity is not being carried out by Syrian regime troops. They didn't even enter the city because they agreed with Israel that they would not enter."

"THERE IS NO SUCCESSOR IN SIGHT"

Pointing out that the risks in Syria are dangerously high, Barrack said there is no successor or alternative to the current Syrian regime. Barrack said, "If this Syrian regime fails, someone has encouraged that failure. For what purpose? There is no successor in sight."

When asked whether Syria would become like Libya or Afghanistan, Barrack replied, "Yes, and even worse."

THE U.S. DOES NOT SUPPORT ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON SYRIA

Stating that Israel's airstrikes on Syria further increase the "chaos" in the country, Barrack noted that his message to Israel is to establish a dialogue to address concerns regarding Syria's new leader, and that the U.S. could take on the role of an "honest broker" to help resolve those concerns.

Expressing that the U.S. does not dictate what Syria's political format should be, other than stability, unity, justice, and inclusivity, Barrack said, "If it results in a federal government, that is their prerogative."