US Syria Envoy Barrack Retracts Claim That Golan Heights Is Occupied Territory

US envoy Tom Barrack retracted his August 21 comment that Israel "still occupies the Golan against UN resolutions," aligning with Trump's 2019 policy recognizing Israeli sovereignty there. Israel seized the Golan in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. Colombia joined the US in backing Israel's claim in August 2026. No other countries recognize the annexation.