Damascus, SANA
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack praised Damascus’ recent agreement for Sweida as “historic,” saying it represents the foundation for rebuilding trust after years of war, during a press conference in Damascus on Tuesday.
“The building blocks of trust, of confidence, of understanding, they take inches, centimeters, and decades to build, and can be lost in an instant,” Barrack said. “What we are seeing today is an architecture, a roadmap, a GPS to build that highway for generations.”
Barrack added that Washington remains committed to helping Syria rebuild, pointing to last May’s decision by President Trump to lift sanctions as a turning point. “We want Syria to utilize its own resources and rebuild independently,” he said, citing the Sweida roadmap as proof of U.S. commitment.
“The goal is one nation that brings together different cultures, religions, and practices, better than the sum of its parts. That’s the goal of Syria, of Jordan, and America is doing its best to usher that process along.” Barrack noted.
What is the new Sweida deal
Minister Asaad al-Shaibani unveiled on Tuesday a plan for Sweida to “ensure justice, restore security, and promote reconciliation,” in Sweida province with support from Jordan, the U.S., and the UN.
Steps include accountability for attacks, uninterrupted aid delivery, compensation and reconstruction, return of displaced residents, and restoration of basic services.
According to al-Shaibani the plan calls for local security deployment, resolving Sweida’s missing persons and detainee cases, and launching a community-wide reconciliation process.
Back in July, heavy clashes erupted in the Syrian city of Sweida, leaving hundreds of civilian and militant casualties.
In September a fact-finding committee interrogated several suspects accused of committing violations after videos surfaced on media and social platforms showing the events.
Committee spokesperson Ammar Ezzeddine told SANA that the videos were filmed in Sweida and surrounding areas between July 14 and 17, prompting urgent action by authorities. The Interior and Defense Ministries detained the suspects pending investigation, while the committee continues its work to uncover the full circumstances of the case.
