US Ambassador to Turkey Barrack and French FM Barrot push for joint action on Syria and Lebanon amid ceasefire collapse

PARIS — US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot this week to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation on Syria and Lebanon. The meeting comes amid mounting frustration in Washington over what Barrack described as the “abject failure” of the current ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

According to a senior French diplomatic source quoted by Al Hadath, the two officials reaffirmed their joint commitment to pressuring Syrian authorities to intensify efforts against the Islamic State (ISIS) and to facilitate a sustainable agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to stabilize the country.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Barrack was blunt in his assessment of the Lebanon ceasefire. “It’s a complete failure,” he said, citing continued Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah’s repeated violations of the truce. The fragile agreement, he argued, has done little to reduce hostilities on either side of the border.

The NYT also reported that Barrack delivered a proposal last month — drafted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio — to the Lebanese government. The plan outlines a roadmap, including specific benchmarks and timelines, for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the implementation of key economic reforms. According to Barrack, any effective disarmament strategy must involve both “carrots and sticks,” including Lebanese Army-led searches of homes suspected of storing weapons.

To encourage cooperation from Lebanon’s Shiite population, Barrack stated that the United States is seeking financial support from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, specifically for reconstruction projects in southern Lebanon — an area heavily damaged in recent clashes.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese diplomatic source told Al Hadath that Washington has made it clear it expects a unanimous response from the Lebanese cabinet to the proposal. This includes approval from ministers affiliated with Hezbollah. The US is reportedly seeking a “full and unambiguous” endorsement of the plan to reflect national consensus.

The message from Barrack’s meetings is clear. The United States wants decisive action, not ambiguity. Whether Lebanon’s fragmented political leadership can deliver the required consensus remains uncertain — but the stakes, both for regional stability and US credibility, are undeniably high.