“October 13, 2025, will be remembered as a defining moment in modern Middle Eastern diplomacy,” US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack wrote Monday.
He published an article on social media platform X/Twitter that is gaining attention in the region.
“In Sharm el-Sheikh, world leaders did more than celebrate the release of hostages, a ceasefire, and the commencement of peace negotiations. They gathered to endorse President Donald J. Trump’s bold, 20-point vision for renewal, reconstruction, and shared prosperity across the region,” Barrack wrote.
Beyond serving at the US envoy to Turkey, Barrack has been tapped as America’s ambassador to Syria. He has also played a role in Lebanon.
As such, he sits at the crossroads of significant US diplomacy. Barrack is dealing with Lebanon and Syria – Israel’s northern flank.
In this context, Hezbollah was partly defeated in an Israeli military campaign between September and November 2024. However, this terrorist group still has weapons. Israel carries out airstrikes almost every few days on Hezbollah members in Lebanon. Beirut would like to stabilize but these airstrikes make it difficult. That said, Lebanon is supposed to disarm Hezbollah.
Barrack’s article is titled “A Personal Perspective – Syria and Lebanon Are the Next Pieces for Levant Peace.” In it, he discussed several important topics. For example, he wrote that the changing situation in Syria will have a positive impact on Lebanon.
“As Damascus stabilizes, Hezbollah grows more isolated. The militia’s foreign control undermines Lebanon’s sovereignty, deters investment, and erodes public confidence and is a constant red flag to Israel,” Barrack said.
“However, the incentives for action now outweigh the costs of inaction: Regional partners are ready to invest, provided Lebanon reclaims the monopoly on legitimate force solely under the authority of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Should Beirut continue to hesitate, Israel may act unilaterally – and the consequences would be grave.”
He also said that disarming Hezbollah is important for Lebanon and Israel. “For Lebanon, it means sovereignty restored and the chance for economic revival. For the United States, it fulfills the president’s peace by prosperity framework while minimizing US exposure. For the broader region, it removes an essential Iranian regime proxy alongside of Hamas and accelerates Arab modernization and integration.”
Furthermore, Barrack noted that the US is working to move Lebanon toward a peaceful “solution with Israel.” This is being accomplished through incentives.
The Trump administration was able to get the Gaza deal through incentives. This is how the US administration works as part of Trump’s concept of the “art of the deal.”
According to Barrack, “The United States just this month committed over 200 million additional dollars to the Lebanese Armed Forces.”
He added that “the United States must support Beirut to quickly separate from the Iranian backed Hezbollah militia and achieve alignment with the anti-terrorist rhythm of its region before the new wave of zero tolerance for terrorist organizations consumes it.”
The Gaza peace plan, which began in Egypt on October 8, now offers a new opportunity for the region. “The rhythm of dialogue, however, now needs to be extended northward – to Syria, and ultimately to Lebanon. The Abraham Accords for the entire region is the true North Star,” Barrack wrote.
Influece of Barrack in Gulf states
The article by Barrack may influence thinking in the Gulf region. Al Arabiya has written up a piece covering Barrack’s comments.
Notwithstanding this, there are still hurdles ahead. The report at Al Arabiya noted that “last August, the Lebanese government approved the decision to hand over the party’s weapons and tasked the army with implementing the decision, with the army submitting periodic reports to the government on the progress of its mission.”
“Meanwhile, the Israeli army still occupies more than five locations in southern Lebanon,” Al Arabiya continued. “It carries out near-daily raids on villages in the south and the Bekaa Valley in the east of the country, claiming to be targeting Hezbollah members.”
The continued airstrikes in Lebanon appear to be similar to the policy some would like to see in Gaza – basically a ceasefire with airstrikes. The question is whether the Barrack perspective regarding how the Gaza plan could help Lebanon will prevail, or if conflict, alternatively, will continue to thrive on both of Israel’s borders.