James Jeffrey Leaves Post, Expects ‘No Change’ in US Policy on Syria

James Jeffrey during a visit to northwestern Syria in March 2020.
James Jeffrey during a visit to northwestern Syria in March 2020.
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James Jeffrey Leaves Post, Expects ‘No Change’ in US Policy on Syria

James Jeffrey during a visit to northwestern Syria in March 2020.
James Jeffrey during a visit to northwestern Syria in March 2020.

US Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey has contacted several European and Arab officials and Syrian opposition figures to inform them that his mission was coming to an end and that the US policy would not change if Joe Biden won the presidency.

Special Envoy for Syria Joel Rayburn, who has attended most of Jeffrey’s meetings ever since his appointment in mid-2018, will take over his mission.

“This is a sign that the (US) policy continues at this stage pending the formation of the new administration,” said European officials.

Ever since coming to office, Jeffrey, 75, has contributed to formulating the US policy towards Syria, including the military presence in the northeast to prevent an ISIS resurgence, supporting the Kurdish administration, keeping economic sanctions on regime-linked figures through the Caesar Act, keeping contact with Arab and European states to prevent normalization with Damascus, supporting Turkey in northwestern Syria, and backing Israel in its airstrikes on Iranian sites.

Jeffrey believes that such moves “have worsened (Syria’s) economic crisis and increased pressure on Syria and drew Russia further into the Syrian quagmire, the officials said.

He has repeatedly said that the maximum pressure campaign on Damascus aims to achieve a series of objectives, including weakening Iranian influence, pushing Damascus to give up its chemical weapons, not to threaten countries neighboring Syria, and not back terrorists, implementing Security Council Resolution 2254, creating the right conditions for the return of refugees, in addition to holding those who have committed war crimes accountable.

In his phone calls with European officials, Jeffrey said US policy towards Syria “will continue” no matter who wins the elections.

“I see no change in our troop presence, I see no change in our sanctions policy, I see no change in our demand that Iran leave Syria, be it with a Biden administration or Trump one,” he said.

In an interview with Syria Direct, Jeffrey said: “We've sanctioned about 75 individuals under the Caesar Act, and under other acts that we found in certain circumstances make more sense. This is just the beginning of what will be further waves of sanctions.”

“Again, we're starting off with the people closest to (Bashar) Assad because we think that it is very important to focus on the accountability of those people who have financed him and on those people who have enabled his military machine.”

Among Jeffrey’s latest efforts, was a campaign to guarantee a European and Arab boycott for the conference on Syrian refugees that is set to take place in Damascus on November 11-12.

“He succeeded in this efforts because European countries decided to boycott (the conference). Both Lebanon and Jordan will send low-ranking diplomatic delegations to the conference’s opening session,” said the officials.

The UN representative in Damascus has also sent a written statement to the Syrian foreign ministry, informing it that he would attend the conference as an observer.

“Only Cuba, the Philippines, Armenia and Iran will take part in the conference, which is a major setback for Moscow and a success for Washington,” said one official.

In his interview with Syria Direct, Jeffrey called for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to leave Syria.

“We want to see the PKK cadre leave Syria. That is a major reason why there is tension with Turkey in the northeast, we want to reduce that tension because in all other areas other than the northeast, we have very close coordination with Turkey on the Syrian situation.”



Displaced People Return to South Lebanon as Ceasefire Appears to Hold

 People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
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Displaced People Return to South Lebanon as Ceasefire Appears to Hold

 People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)

Long-displaced residents of south Lebanon started returning to their homes amid celebrations hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah group took effect early Wednesday morning.

The ceasefire has brought relief across the nation, coming after days of some of the most intense airstrikes and clashes since the war began, though many wondered if the agreement to stop fighting would hold. Israel has said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement, which was announced Tuesday.

Hundreds of cars made their way into southern Lebanon, defying a warning from the Israeli army to stay away from previously evacuated areas.

Israeli military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee issued the warning on the social platform X.

“You are prohibited from heading towards the villages that the IDF has ordered to be evacuated or towards IDF forces in the area,” Adraee wrote, using an acronym for the Israeli military. “For your safety and the safety of your family members, refrain from moving to the area.”

At least 42 people were killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens in the country’s north.

Displaced people started returning to the coastal city of Tyre on motorcycles and in cars early Wednesday.

Ahmed Husseini said returning to southern Lebanon was an “indescribable feeling” and praised Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who led Lebanon’s negotiations with Washington. “He made us and everyone proud.”

Husseini, who earlier fled a town near the coastal city, spoke to The Associated Press while in his car with family members.

Meanwhile, sporadic celebratory gunfire can be heard at a main roundabout in the city, as people returning honked the horns of cars — some piled with mattresses — and residents cheered.

A couple of men shouted slogans praising slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September.

Hussein Sweidan said he sees the ceasefire as a victory for Hezbollah. “This is a moment of victory, pride and honor for us, the Shiite sect, and for all of Lebanon,” he said.

The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire marks the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but it does not address the devastating war in Gaza.

Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack. The fighting in Lebanon escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south.

In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.