US Warns Over Another Middle East War
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The United States has warned there is "no Plan B" for Syria as it called for calm following a ceasefire brokered with Israel in the wake of clashes in southern Syria in which Israeli forces intervened.
"President Trump has huge interest in making sure we have regional stability," U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said in Lebanon.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department, the Syrian government and the Israeli prime minister's office for comment.
Why It Matters
Syria is at the intersection of conflicts involving major Middle Eastern powers Israel, Iran and Turkey and if it spins out of control it could become an epicenter of a bigger regional war that could also pull in the United States.
The ambassador's comments highlighted U.S. support for the transitional Syrian government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former jihadi who overthrew Iranian-backed President Bashar al-Assad late last year.
Syria is trying to rebuild, regain control from armed groups, stop sectarian violence, and fight off ISIS. The latest fighting and Israel's expanded deployment shows the situation remains fragile.
Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Syrian Defense Ministry building, which was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes last Wednesday, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Syrian Defense Ministry building, which was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes last Wednesday, in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo
What To Know
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack on Monday reaffirmed support for Syria's transitional government, saying there's "no Plan B" for uniting the war-torn country. He said Israel's intervention "creates another very confusing chapter" and "came at a very bad time," in an interview with the Associated Press on Monday.
More than 300 people were killed and thousands forced to flee sectarian clashes last week in the southern Suwayda governorate, according to rights groups and authorities. The United Nations' human rights office, OHCHR, said there were reports of widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and looting of homes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that the Syrian government had sent troops into southern Syria and begun attacking the Druze community, prompting it to strike the defense ministry in Damascus.
Israel wants a demilitarized zone in the region to south of Damascus, from the Golan Heights and to the Druze Mountain area, he added.
The Israeli army, which recruits heavily among Israel's own Druze population, has declared part of the area adjacent to the border fence in northern Golan a closed military zone, according to Israel's Channel 12.
President Al-Sharaa condemned "foreign intervention" in a speech on Saturday. Sharaa and his interim government have said that authorities are seeking to restore state rule in regions dominated by Druze militias.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Special Envoy to Syra Thomas Barrack on X: "The international community has largely rallied behind the nascent Syrian government, watching with cautious optimism as it seeks to transition from a legacy of pain to a future of hope. Yet, this fragile ambition is now overshadowed by profound shock, as brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government's authority and disrupt any semblance of order. All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance. Syria stands at a critical juncture—peace and dialogue must prevail—and prevail now."
Mahmoud Alloush, Turkey-based political analyst, told Al-Jazeera Channel: "The Suweida crisis reflects the serious threat Israel poses to Syria — one that goes beyond the state's relationship with the Druze and undermines the broader project of a unified Syrian state. Israel is poisoning ties between the Druze and Damascus, working to entrench sectarian fault lines and keep partition on the table."
What Happens Next
Syrian authorities face a challenge to establish control and to show they have moved beyond their jihadi associations. Further fighting could deepen Syria's crisis and prompt further Israeli intervention. Syria's authorities are evacuating hundreds of Bedouin families trapped in Suwayda to the Daraa countryside.
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