Syria’s al-Sharaa may be targeted over West alignment, US envoy claims
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US envoy Thomas Barrack claims extremists may target Syria’s al-Sharaa over his reformist policies. Says Damascus and Washington now share aligned interests.
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In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, shakes hands with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, in Damascus, Syria, May 29, 2025 (SANA via AP)
US Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, has warned that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa could become a target for assassination by extremist groups due to his efforts to promote "inclusive governance" and re-establish ties with the West, according to the US-based website Al-Monitor.
Barrack stated that the current alignment of US and Syrian interests under al-Sharaa is clear: both seek the success of a so-called model similar to Idlib, one that fosters a moderate, effective, and inclusive Islamic society, rather than an extremist one.
Since Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took power in Syria in December, al-Sharaa sought to mend ties with the West, particularly the United States, which had been sanctioning and isolating Syria when the Assad regime was in power. In turn, al-Sharaa signaled openness to establishing a political settlement with "Israel", including making concessions regarding the occupied Golan.
ISIS attacks al-Sharaa
In mid-May, ISIS launched a harsh attack on Syria's transitional leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, criticizing his role in the ongoing Syrian political transition and his engagement with the United States.
The editorial, published under the title "On Trump's Threshold," reflects the group's rejection of any political path involving foreign powers.
The group called on foreign fighters to join what it described as “detachments spread among you in rural and peripheral areas,” warning them against becoming tools in the hands of Syrian opposition figure Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now known as Ahmad al-Sharaa. “Do not let yourselves become a card burned by al-Jolani as a means to gain international approval,” the article stated.
The editorial reserved strong criticism for al-Sharaa, referencing his previous alliances with Syrian factions and opposition groups. “Al-Jolani began early on with losing deals years before coming to power. True, they gave him the presidency, but they stripped him of his faith and honor,” the article said.
