Latest news with #ThomasBarak
Ammon
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Ammon
Strategic crossroads: Jordan, Israel, and the shifting regional order
The joint press conference held recently in Amman—featuring Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barak, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani—delivered a powerful message about the region's shifting dynamics. It underscored Jordan's deep concern over the tragic events unfolding in Suwayda and, more broadly, in Syria. For Amman, these developments are not merely neighboring conflicts—they are directly linked to Jordan's national security and its evolving regional role. The ongoing unrest in Suwayda, despite a declared ceasefire, remains volatile and laden with strategic implications from a Jordanian perspective. Chief among these is the dangerous shift in Israel's security doctrine—from a defensive posture to one of assertive regional dominance. Israel now aspires to be the region's foremost power, even positioning itself as the sole security enforcer in the Middle East. Israel's agenda in Syria appears to oscillate between two alarming objectives: fragmenting the country into a collection of weak, rival statelets; and establishing a demilitarized, fragile zone in southern Syria—open to regular Israeli military intervention. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly declared his ambition for such a demilitarized zone. More concerning, however, is Israel's attempt to legitimize its military involvement by invoking the protection of the Druze community and engaging with Druze religious leaders such as Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri in Suwayda. Through these moves, Israel is positioning itself as a stakeholder in Syria's internal affairs, laying claim to the right to shape its future—a development with potentially far-reaching consequences for the entire region. From Amman's standpoint, what's unfolding in Suwayda resonates deeply with national security priorities. In a recent closed-door roundtable hosted by the Politics and Society Institute, Jordanian military, intelligence, and policy experts emphasized that the crisis in Suwayda cannot be viewed in isolation from what's happening in Gaza—or even the West Bank. Participants warned that Israel's evolving strategy could soon manifest in dangerous new policies across the region, including in the occupied Palestinian territories. But how does Suwayda connect to the West Bank? To answer this, we must first identify the threats Israel's actions in Syria pose to Jordan. Jordan's primary strategic interest in Syria is preserving the territorial unity of the Syrian state. That depends on the strength of the new political system and its capacity to integrate Syria's diverse communities into a cohesive national framework. Any descent into civil war or political fragmentation would not only destabilize Syria, but also trigger cascading threats across the region—chief among them, to Jordan. These include fresh waves of refugees, a potential ISIS resurgence, border insecurity, disruptions to shared water resources, delays in refugee repatriation, and a spike in cross-border drug smuggling and terrorism. From this vantage point, Israel's strategic direction in Syria constitutes a top-tier threat to Jordan. This threat is compounded by fears in Amman that the Israeli far-right government may seek to establish a pro-Israel Druze enclave in southern Syria—reminiscent of the South Lebanon Army during the Lebanese civil war. Such a development would trigger two deeply concerning consequences: renewed displacement of Syrian populations from Daraa due to worsening conditions, and an Israeli encirclement of Jordan from the north and west—effectively transforming Tel Aviv into a regional juggernaut. This leads us back to the West Bank. Under Israel's current strategic vision, the two-state solution has been effectively abandoned. At the same time, the Trump administration has shown no real interest in reviving peace efforts. On the contrary, Israel appears to be implementing a premeditated plan involving land annexation, the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, and the transformation of the West Bank into isolated, controllable cantons. What is unfolding in Syria—especially in the aftermath of the October 7 attack and Israel's war on Gaza—and what is brewing in the West Bank, are both manifestations of a dangerous new Israeli strategic doctrine. These developments suggest that no regional actor currently possesses either the political will or the leverage to halt Israeli efforts to forcibly reshape the demographic and geopolitical landscape in line with Netanyahu's long-term vision. If Israel can redraw the map in Syria, it is all the more capable of implementing even more consequential policies in the West Bank and Jerusalem, particularly regarding the Palestinian demographic question—posing a direct challenge to Jordan's core interests. Jordan's problem with Israel, then, is no longer limited to the occupation of the West Bank. It is now inseparably linked to Israel's broader regional ambitions—in Syria, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza. This means that diplomatic tensions and strategic anxieties between Amman and Tel Aviv are steadily intensifying, despite the existing peace treaty. Even more alarming is that Israel no longer seeks to present itself as a vulnerable, security-conscious state. Instead, it is acting as a dominant regional power bent on imposing its agenda and capitalizing on the overwhelming imbalance of power in its favor.
Shafaq News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Syrian Army and Kurdish forces clash east of Aleppo after talks fail
Shafaq News – Aleppo Clashes erupted overnight between Syrian army units and fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of Aleppo, Syrian sources reported on Friday. The fighting broke out near the villages of al-Imam and Rasm al-Krum in the eastern countryside of Deir Hafer district, following an SDF infiltration attempt targeting army positions in the area, the sources said, confirming thsat that Syrian government forces repelled the assault, though intermittent clashes continued, with both sides reinforcing their positions along the contact lines. The escalation follows the failure of the second round of negotiations between the two sides to implement the March 10 Agreement, which called for the dissolution of the Kurdish-led forces, their integration into the Syrian army, and the handover of administration of northeastern cities to the central government. Tensions rose sharply during the latest talks, as the SDF delegation insisted on federal autonomy and sought to integrate its forces as a separate bloc within the national army. The discussions, attended by US envoy Thomas Barak, ended without agreement According to sources familiar with the talks, the SDF delegation demanded constitutional amendments, rejected the handover of any cities in northeastern Syria, and refused to relinquish control over oil fields and border crossings—positions that triggered direct US mediation efforts despite American reservations about some of the SDF's demands.
See - Sada Elbalad
04-06-2025
- General
- See - Sada Elbalad
US to Scale Back Military Presence in Syria
Israa Farhan The United States will significantly reduce its military footprint in Syria, consolidating its operations from eight bases down to just one, according to the country's newly appointed envoy to Syria, Thomas Barak. The decision marks a major policy shift, with Washington acknowledging that its previous approach toward Damascus has failed to deliver results over the past century. Barak stated that the US strategy is evolving, with a focus on reassessing longstanding methods that have not achieved the desired political or security outcomes in the region. According to Fox News, the US has already closed its base known as the Green Village and handed over the Euphrates base to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led militia that has partnered with the US in the fight against ISIS. A third base was also shut down, while some American troops have been redeployed to other areas. This drawdown represents one of the most substantial reductions in US military presence in Syria since operations began during the height of the fight against ISIS. While the precise number of troops remaining in Syria has not been disclosed, officials have confirmed that the US will maintain one operational base for strategic continuity. In a related development, there are growing signs of potential US-brokered talks between Turkish officials and representatives of the SDF. Tulay Hatim Ogullari, co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party in the Turkish Parliament, said that mutual visits between officials from Turkey and northern and eastern Syria could contribute meaningfully to the peace process within Turkey. Such meetings, if realised, could mark a turning point in efforts to reduce tensions between Ankara and Kurdish forces, who have long been at odds over territorial and political issues in the region. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
LBCI
31-05-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Amid Gaza war and Iran tensions, US Envoys to tour Israel's northern front
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Mariella Succar Amid rising conflict and the drumbeats of war on multiple fronts, U.S. envoy Thomas Barak and his deputy, Morgan Ortagus, are expected to arrive in Israel early next week, with northern border issues at the center of their visit. According to the itinerary, the two diplomats are scheduled to tour areas along the borders with Syria and Lebanon. On Wednesday, they are also expected to attend the meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee with Lebanon in Naqoura, where Israeli officials are expected to reaffirm, according to military sources, the ongoing presence and operations of the Israeli army inside Lebanon for an indefinite period. Meanwhile, eyes are fixed on Washington as observers await a potential announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a ceasefire in Gaza. In Israel, reports have emerged of closed-door discussions about a potential strike on Iran. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, currently in Washington, reportedly informed the U.S. administration that the emerging agreement does not meet Israel's security needs, asserting Israel's right to defend itself. Sources say the confidential discussions focused on the readiness of Israel's home front and a possible Iranian retaliation involving thousands of rockets launched without warning. Such a scenario could lead to a major military escalation, with rockets carrying warheads weighing up to 700 kilograms each. The leak of these deliberations by security critics highlights growing internal concerns. Analysts warn that such military actions could further destabilize the country, especially after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that fighting in Gaza would continue until a new deal is finalized—a move some security officials say could endanger hostages and derail ongoing negotiations. The leaked details dominated the Israeli political and security agenda, raising alarms not only over the potential physical toll of a wider conflict but also over its financial implications. Economic and security experts are warning that the combined costs of military operations across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen could push Israel toward economic collapse. According to official data, the war in Gaza alone is costing Israel approximately $1.2 million per day. Intercepting each ballistic missile from Yemen with a single Arrow missile reportedly costs $3.5 million. Critics who describe the war as politically driven say that the total cost of the military campaign throughout 2024 has reached $40 billion. Experts caution that a strike on Iran, coupled with existing war expenses, could cause long-term damage to Israel's economy—damage from which recovery would take years.
