America Lets Go of Prominent Diplomats Amid Pro-Damascus Political Shift

Introduction
Five informed sources said that some of the most prominent American diplomats involved in the Syrian file were let go in recent days as part of an internal restructuring of the team responsible for Syria.

Background
These diplomats were working within the “Regional Syria Platform” of the U.S. mission in Istanbul, reporting to the U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Since his appointment last May, Barrack has led a shift in U.S. policy toward supporting a united Syrian state under the leadership of President Ahmed Al-Shara, who assumed power after the opposition toppled Bashar al-Assad late last year.

Details of the Decision
A U.S. diplomatic source explained that some employees were informed that their assignments had ended as part of a reorganization process, denying any internal political disagreements behind the decision and affirming that the move would not affect Washington’s policy toward Syria.
However, four other sources, including two Western diplomats, described the moves as “surprising and involuntary,” noting that they took place last week.

Washington’s Position
The U.S. State Department declined to comment on “personnel decisions or administrative restructuring,” and only confirmed that the core team dealing with the Syrian file continues to work from multiple locations.