US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack meets with Lebanon’s top leaders, reaffirms US commitment to support government

BEIRUT — During his visit to Beirut, US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack met with Lebanon’s top officials President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the current situation in the region and national reform in Labanon.

The discussions centered on critical issues, including the disarmament of pro-Iranian Hezbollah and armed Palestinian groups in refugee camps. Barrack conveyed a message of support and optimism, emphasizing the United States’ belief that Lebanon’s new leadership could usher in peace and progress.

In his statements following the meetings, Barrack reaffirmed the US’s commitment to assisting Lebanon during a challenging period of global complexities. He warned that any involvement by Iran-backed Hezbollah in the escalating Iranian-Israeli tensions would be “a bad decision,” and stressed the importance of avoiding a repeat of past regional conflicts.

Barrack described his visit as a reinforcement of shared American-Lebanese interests and highlighted the potential for Syria and Lebanon to emerge as models of free trade rather than being mired in externally imposed turmoil.

He also called for greater coordination between Lebanese and Syrian authorities on border demarcation. However, Lebanese media noted that Barrack avoided direct references to contentious issues like the Shebaa Farms and Ghajar village disputes.

The Shebaa Farms and Ghajar village disputes stem from unclear borders and competing territorial claims in the Lebanon-Syria-Israel region.

Shebaa Farms, a small strip of farmland, is claimed by Lebanon with Syrian support, while Israel views it as part of the Golan Heights. The UN recognizes it as Syrian but without a definitive border agreement. Ghajar village, an Alawite community straddling the UN-drawn Blue Line, is divided between Lebanon and Israeli-occupied Golan, though Israel controls it entirely.

Both areas are flashpoints for tension, with Hezbollah using Shebaa Farms to justify resistance against Israel, while Ghajar faces local identity struggles and allegations of Israeli annexation attempts.