Tom Barrack, a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has said Israel is unlikely to defeat Hezbollah through military power alone, warning that assassinations and targeted strikes often deepen resistance rather than weaken it.
Speaking at an event in Abu Dhabi, Barrack argued that confronting groups like Hezbollah purely through force has historically failed. He likened Israel’s campaign against the Lebanese group to U.S. efforts to reshape Iran, noting that Washington had attempted regime change in Tehran on multiple occasions without success. According to him, such strategies tend to entrench defiance rather than deliver lasting political outcomes.
Although presented as personal views, Barrack’s comments touched on deeply sensitive issues at the heart of U.S. Middle East policy, from Israel’s war posture to sanctions, regime change, and military alliances. As a prominent figure associated with Trump-era foreign policy thinking, his remarks were widely interpreted as reflective of a realist strain within U.S. strategic circles.
Turning to Syria, Barrack said he hoped the U.S. Congress would repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a sanctions regime that has sharply restricted economic activity in the country. He claimed that the removal of sanctions would allow U.S. and Gulf investors to re-enter Syria, arguing that economic engagement, rather than isolation, could shape the country’s future trajectory.
Barrack controversially framed the situation in Syria as having moved into a “post-Assad” phase, asserting that Bashar al-Assad had been removed and replaced by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, a onetime Al-Qaeda-linked figure. That characterisation runs counter to widely accepted international positions and underscored the provocative nature of his intervention.
On Türkiye, Barrack predicted that Ankara would eventually abandon its Russian-made S-400 air defence system, describing such a move as part of a natural realignment. The statement aligns with Washington’s long-standing push to bring Türkiye fully back into NATO’s security framework following years of tension over Ankara’s defence ties with Moscow.
Barrack also highlighted expanding U.S.-backed military arrangements in the region, pointing to Israel’s growing fleet of F-35 fighter jets and a U.S. agreement to supply Saudi Arabia with a less advanced version of the aircraft. He presented these deals, along with what he described as the close personal relationship between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as signs of improving regional ties.
Overall, Barrack’s remarks painted a familiar picture of U.S. engagement in the Middle East—one in which Washington remains deeply involved in negotiations, sanctions regimes, arms sales and political outcomes, often presenting deeper involvement as a path to stability even as regional dynamics continue to evolve beyond American control.
Abuja Network News
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