US envoy clarifies stance on Israel's Golan Heights sovereignty claim

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack retracted comments suggesting the Golan Heights remain under occupation, clarifying that American policy regarding Israel's claimed sovereignty over the Syrian territory has not shifted. The ambassador's clarification came after his initial remarks sparked attention regarding the consistency of US Middle East policy. Officials from the State Department emphasized that the United States maintains its longstanding recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a position adopted during the Trump administration in 2019. The strategic plateau, seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, remains a focal point of regional dispute despite decades of international disagreement over its status. Barrack's retraction underscores the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding the territory and Washington's alignment with Israeli interests in the region, particularly as broader Middle East negotiations continue to evolve. The clarification signals consistency in US policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and related territorial disputes, despite occasional diplomatic rhetoric that may suggest otherwise.