Tom Barrack Removes U.S. Diplomats From Syria Regional Platform In Istanbul

Kurdpress, citing Reuters, said several senior U.S. diplomats responsible for the Syria dossier were abruptly removed from posts at the Syria Regional Platform (SRP), which operates as the unofficial U.S. representation for Syria from the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul.

“President of the United States, by signing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, valued at $901 billion, while approving the country’s largest defense budget, paved the way for the formal lifting of Syria sanctions”

Anadolu Ajansı

The dismissed diplomats, Kurdpress said, worked directly under Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria and U.S. ambassador to Turkey, and one American diplomatic source stressed the change was a "team reshuffle."

Anadolu Ajansı

Kurdpress also reported that two Western diplomats and two other American sources said the removals were abrupt and involuntary, with one Western diplomat saying: "The dismissal of American diplomats stemmed from differences with Barrack over the SDF and al-Shar’."

The U.S. State Department responded that it does not comment on "personnel decisions or administrative changes" and added that "The core personnel working on the Syria dossier continue to work in several locations".

Kurdpress further said Barrack pressed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to implement as quickly as possible the March agreement with the al-Shar’ government, under which Kurdish-controlled areas would be returned to the sovereignty of the central government and the SDF would be integrated into the structure of the National Security Forces.

Anadolu Ajansı said President of the United States Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 valued at $901 billion, paving the way for the formal lifting of Syria sanctions.

The Anadolu Ajansı report said the law, signed at a closed ceremony at the White House, officially invalidated the "Caesar Act for the Protection of Syrian Civilians" enacted in 2019.

CNN

It added that under the new provisions, the President is required to report on the implementation of the lifting of sanctions within 90 days and then every 180 days for four years to Congress.

Anadolu Ajansı also said the repeal of the Caesar Act clears the way for the return of investments and foreign aid to Syria and support for the new government led by Ahmad al-Shar’ formed in March 2025.

The same report tied the sanctions change to the broader shift in Washington’s approach to Syria described by Kurdpress, including efforts to fold Kurdish allies into the central Damascus government structure.

CNN reported that the State Department last week finalized firings of nearly 250 foreign service officers in a brief email that said, "Your reduction in force separation will be effective today," and thanked them for their service.

“According to Kurdpress, Reuters reported that several senior U”

kurdpress

CNN said the reductions in force (RIFs) initiated last July also impacted more than 1,000 civil service officers, and that the American Foreign Service Association estimates roughly 2,000 foreign service officers left the State Department last year.

David Kostelancik, who retired after 36 years in the foreign service, told CNN: "It was just unprecedented numbers of people choosing to leave," as former officials described an “up or out” system with no upward assignments or promotions like ambassadorships.

CNN also quoted State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott saying the idea that the agency was being hollowed out is "false," and that the claim the loss of hundreds of experienced diplomats will impact U.S. ability to deliver is "baseless."

CNN further reported that Pigott said the reorganization eliminated redundant positions and that "the RIF’s are not having any negative impact on our ability to respond to operations, our ability to plan, and our ability to execute in service to Americans."