US Envoy Tom Barrack Calls for Restraint Amid Aleppo Clashes

WISE NEWS PRESS / ANKARA, TÜRKİYE 

The United States has broken its silence regarding the escalating military tensions in Aleppo, with Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack issuing a critical call for "cooperation over conflict." The statement comes as Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) engage in heavy clashes in the contested neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh.

Urgent Appeal for Restraint

Ambassador Tom Barrack, who also serves as the US Ambassador to Türkiye, voiced grave concern over the developments in northern Syria. Urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint, Barrack stated, "This is not a time for conflict, but a time for cooperation." He emphasized that the protection of civilian lives and property must be placed above all other considerations as tens of thousands of residents flee the affected districts.

"The future of Aleppo, and of Syria as a whole, belongs to its people and must be shaped through peaceful means, not violence," Barrack stated in a lengthy post on X.

Vision for National Integration

The Envoy highlighted that Syria had recently made historic strides toward stability following decades of civil war. Barrack specifically referenced the milestone talks with Israel and the nearly finalized integration agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government, originally set for March 2025. He argued that the goal of national unity and security coordination remains "highly achievable" despite the recent eruption of violence.

A Call to Halt Hostilities

Addressing the leadership of both the Syrian government and the SDF, Barrack called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. He urged sapped actors on the ground to prioritize "the exchange of ideas over the exchange of fire." The US Envoy warned that renewed instability only serves the interests of "destructive external forces" looking to undermine the progress made toward regional peace and President Trump’s Middle East initiatives.

"Syria’s new era is one of cooperation," Barrack concluded. "We will reach it together."

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