Tom Barrack's appointment signals Washington’s recognition of Türkiye’s increased regional influence in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting by rebel forces last year

Tom Barrack's dual-hatted role is likely to give Trump more direct finger on the pulse of his Syria policy as the president has vowed to lift decades of US economic sanctions to give the country's people "a chance at greatness.

Thomas Barrack, a longtime friend of Donald Trump and current U.S. ambassador to Turkey, is set to become a special envoy for Syria. The move coincides with the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, indicating acknowledgment of Turkey's influence in Damascus following the end of Syria's civil war.