Israel's escalation in Syria, which awkwardly coincides with U.S. efforts to lift sanctions and establish unified military control over Syrian territory, places the Trump administration in a tight corner. Through its recent maneuvers, Israel has signaled its intent to control Syria's destiny, regardless of the damage to U.S. strategy.

Washington cannot "compel" Israel to do anything, US special envoy Thomas Barrack said in Beirut on Monday, in response to a reporter's question about Lebanese demands that the US guarantees a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory.

Will the U.S. push the Druze and Kurds to capitulate to Damascus as if nothing has changed?

Syria stands at a critical juncture - peace and dialogue must prevail - and prevail now,” US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said. US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned that President Donald Trump’s lifting of sanctions and the international community’s cautious support of Syria’s new regime are at risk due to Syria’s current conflict,

Barrack suggested that Israel would prefer to see Syria fragmented and divided rather than a strong central state in control of the country.

US envoy Tom Barrack has arrived in Beirut for another round of talks with Lebanese leaders over the disarmament of Hezbollah. On his second visit to Lebanon in two weeks, Mr Barrack is meeting with President Joseph Aoun followed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

The agreement comes after intense clashes displaced tens of thousands of people and contributed to a worsening humanitarian crisis in a region still recovering from over a decade of brutal civil war.