Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Iraq and Syria, is advancing talks on an oil corridor linking Iraq to Syria’s Mediterranean coast. Discussions centre on rebuilding the Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline, dormant for more than two decades, while alternative routes from southern Iraq through Haditha and onward to Syria, Türkiye or Jordan are also under consideration.

The proposed “Barrack Pipeline” is an editorial label, not the project’s official name. It reflects the envoy’s role in bringing Iraqi and Syrian officials together with energy companies. Bloomberg reported that Chevron had joined the discussions, while a State Department official confirmed U.S. support for rehabilitating the cross-border link and said American companies were expected to participate.

The initiative gained momentum around Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s White House visit. Informed sources said Barrack was among the principal architects of the trip inside the administration. After the meeting, he called it a “turning point” and argued that the next phase of U.S.-Iraqi relations should be built on investment, trade and economic opportunity, with Iraq serving as a bridge between the Gulf, Türkiye, Syria, Jordan, Central Asia, the Balkans and the Caucasus.

Details

• Primary route: The leading proposal would restore an approximately 800-kilometre pipeline running from Kirkuk to the Syrian port of Baniyas.
• Historic link: The Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline was built in the 1950s and originally carried about 300,000 barrels a day before falling out of service.
• Hormuz alternative: The route would provide direct access to the Mediterranean without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, reducing Iraq’s vulnerability to Gulf disruptions.
• Second option: Baghdad is also examining a pipeline from Basra to Haditha that could later branch towards Syria, Türkiye or Jordan.
• Baniyas gateway: The Syrian port is emerging as a potential outlet for Iraqi crude and already hosts the country’s largest refinery.
• Corporate interest: Chevron, TotalEnergies, TI Capital and UCC Holding have taken part in discussions, although no final construction agreement has been announced.
• Iraqi interest: The pipeline would diversify Baghdad’s export options beyond its southern terminals and the existing northern route to Türkiye’s Ceyhan port.
• Syrian gains: Damascus could secure transit revenue and investment in ports, refineries and pumping stations while rebuilding its place in regional energy trade.
• Security risks: Potential routes cross Iraq’s Anbar province and eastern Syria, where Islamic State cells remain active.
• Reconstruction cost: Large stretches of the old system, along with pumping stations and associated infrastructure, would need to be rebuilt at a cost likely to run into billions of dollars.
• Political resistance: Iran-aligned Iraqi factions may view the corridor as an attempt to weaken Tehran’s influence over regional energy routes.
• Early stage: The parties have yet to announce a final route, financing structure, operating capacity or construction timetable.

Between the lines

The proposed “Barrack Pipeline” takes its name from the political project surrounding it, rather than from a new piece of engineering. The physical route is historic. What is new is the attempt to recast the Fertile Crescent as an integrated economic space connected by ports, pipelines and capital instead of fractured by closed borders and competing spheres of influence.

In Barrack’s model, energy infrastructure is not the reward for stability but a means of producing it. His strategy is to anchor Iraq and Syria in a web of interests involving Türkiye, Gulf capital and American companies, offering governments an economic alternative to the armed networks associated with Iran. For Iraq, that would turn geography from a liability during a Hormuz crisis into leverage as a bridge between the Gulf and the Mediterranean.

Yet a pipeline cannot by itself create a stable regional order. The project will require credible security guarantees, a durable Iraqi-Syrian agreement and sufficient domestic legitimacy to prevent it from being cast as a U.S.-designed corridor aimed solely at containing Iran.

What to watch

The next test is whether the talks produce a formal agreement setting out the route, financing, operating capacity, revenue-sharing arrangements and the roles of U.S. and regional companies. The response of Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, and the ability of Baghdad and Damascus to secure the corridor, will determine whether the “Barrack Pipeline” advances from political vision to an operational link between the Gulf and the Mediterranean.

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The latest

Explosions were heard in Damascus on Tuesday, with the cause not immediately clear, Reuters reported, as French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Syrian capital for talks with President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Details

• The blasts: Reuters cited a witness saying explosions were heard in Damascus, without an immediate explanation for their source.

• Macron’s visit: Reuters reported that Macron arrived in Syria in the first trip by a European Union head of state since Assad was ousted.

• The agenda: The Associated Press said Macron was set to meet Sharaa and civil society representatives, with political and economic issues on the table.

• Earlier attack: Syrian authorities said a July 2 blast at a Damascus café killed 9 people and wounded 20.

• French position: France condemned the café attack and called for the circumstances to be fully clarified.

Background

The visit comes as Syria’s new authorities try to secure the capital, rebuild Western channels and test whether European engagement can move beyond symbolism into reconstruction, sanctions relief and security cooperation.

What to watch

Watch for an official Syrian explanation of the explosions, any French update on Macron’s movements, and possible new security measures around foreign delegations in Damascus.

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Fawaz Akhras, Bashar al-Assad’s father-in-law and a former Harley Street cardiologist, is living an isolated life in London after becoming a pariah linked to one of the region’s most brutal regimes, according to The Sunday Times.

Details

• London address: The Sunday Times reported that Akhras lives in a modest North Acton house, despite owning a luxury villa near Damascus.

• Family collapse: The paper said Akhras fled to Russia with the Assad family after the regime fell, then returned to Britain in May.

• US sanctions: Washington sanctioned Akhras, accusing him of helping facilitate financial and political support for Bashar al-Assad.

• Media advice: The Sunday Times said leaked emails showed Akhras advising the regime on how to counter Western criticism.

• His denial: Akhras called the sanctions “politically motivated” and said being Assad’s father-in-law was not a political position.

Background

Akhras was born in Homs in 1946, trained in London and became a respected cardiologist before his daughter Asma’s marriage pulled him into Bashar al-Assad’s closest family circle.

Between the lines

The force of the story is not simply that an old man was found behind a quiet London door. It is the contradiction: a doctor whose public life was built around saving hearts, later accused of standing politically and financially near a regime that crushed cities, detained opponents and displaced millions of Syrians.

The Sunday Times frames the question as moral as much as legal. Was Akhras a believer in the regime, or a father trapped by fear for his daughter and grandchildren? The leaked emails, according to the paper, make neutrality harder to sustain: they suggest not just silence, but active advice on messaging.

The harsher ending is that Assad’s fall left Akhras with neither power to protect him nor a reputation to restore his old life. His family is scattered, his Yafour villa was probably looted, and sources cited by the paper said Syria’s new government has seized his medical center in Damascus.

What to watch

The unresolved question is Akhras’s legal position in Britain: whether he has received a new passport, whether he is under UK sanctions, and why he is living in London without publicly announced criminal charges.

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President Donald Trump has floated an idea that many in the Middle East thought had long been buried: allowing Syria to take on Hezbollah inside Lebanon.

Presented as a possible alternative if Israel cannot achieve its military objectives, the proposal has triggered concern well beyond the battlefield. For many Lebanese, it recalls nearly three decades of Syrian military dominance that ended only in 2005. For Syria’s new leadership, it risks pulling a fragile state into another regional conflict just as it is trying to rebuild at home.

Details

• According to The New York Times, Trump has repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that Syria could do a better job confronting Hezbollah as he grows frustrated with the prolonged conflict and its impact on broader regional diplomacy.
• Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has firmly rejected the idea, saying Damascus has no intention of entering another war or restoring the old model of Syrian control over Lebanon.
• Lebanese leaders have also sought to calm speculation. President Joseph Aoun said al-Sharaa’s remarks effectively closed the door on talk of a Syrian military role, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed Syria’s assurances that it respects Lebanon’s sovereignty.
• Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem dismissed Trump’s proposal as part of what he described as a joint U.S.-Israeli effort to eliminate the group, adding that Damascus had refused to participate.

Why the proposal is so risky

The controversy is about far more than military operations.

Any Syrian military deployment inside Lebanon would reopen one of the country’s most painful historical chapters. Syrian forces remained in Lebanon for nearly 29 years after entering during the civil war, leaving behind deep political divisions and lasting resentment over their influence.

Analysts say even a limited intervention aimed at Hezbollah could reignite sectarian tensions, weaken Lebanon’s already fragile institutions, and revive disputes over Syrian influence that have shaped Lebanese politics for decades.

The proposal also comes at a difficult moment for Syria. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the new government has focused on restoring security, rebuilding institutions, and stabilizing a country devastated by years of civil war.

Lina Khatib, an associate fellow at Chatham House, warned that encouraging Syria to intervene in Lebanon would likely destabilize both countries. She argued that such a move could inflame sectarian tensions in Lebanon while giving Hezbollah an incentive to expand the confrontation into Syria.

Background

Relations between Damascus and Hezbollah have changed dramatically since Assad’s downfall.

Under the former government, Syria served as Iran’s main land corridor for supplying Hezbollah with weapons and funding, while Hezbollah fighters played a key role in defending Assad during Syria’s civil war.

The government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa has taken a different course. Damascus has distanced itself from Iran and its regional allies, tightened border security, and targeted smuggling networks that Syrian authorities say are linked to Hezbollah. The group has denied those accusations.

Recent troop movements near the Lebanese border, combined with Trump’s comments, fueled widespread speculation that Syria was preparing to intervene. Syrian officials, however, have repeatedly said the deployments were routine defensive measures, while independent fact-checking organizations found no evidence of preparations for an incursion into Lebanon.

What to watch

There is no indication that Damascus is prepared to act on Trump’s proposal, and Lebanon has shown no interest in inviting Syrian forces back onto its territory.

Even so, the suggestion reflects Washington’s growing confidence in Syria’s new leadership. It also places Damascus in a delicate position: preserving closer ties with the United States without becoming entangled in a conflict that could undermine Syria’s own fragile recovery and reopen one of the region’s most sensitive fault lines.

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President Donald Trump opened a new front in his dispute with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not only by criticizing Israel’s operations in Lebanon but also by proposing that Syria take responsibility for dealing with Hezbollah.

Speaking alongside Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian, France, Trump said Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah had dragged on for too long without delivering a decisive outcome and had come at a high human cost. He added that he had advised Israel to leave the issue to Damascus.

Trump described Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa as “very tough on Hezbollah” and said the new Syrian leadership could be more effective in confronting the Lebanese group than Israel.

Details

• Trump called Israel’s strike on Beirut, carried out hours before the Iran agreement was finalized, “brutal” and “disproportionate,” saying he personally conveyed his dissatisfaction to Israeli officials.

• The U.S. president urged Netanyahu to show “greater responsibility” toward Lebanon, underscoring growing tensions between the two leaders over both Lebanon and Iran policy.

• Trump linked the durability of the Iran deal to avoiding escalation in Lebanon, arguing that Israeli military action nearly jeopardized months of diplomatic work.

• The proposal reflects Washington’s growing confidence in Syria’s new leadership following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Trump has repeatedly praised al-Sharaa’s role in stabilizing and unifying the country.

• Damascus, however, has shown little appetite for such a role. Al-Sharaa recently denied any intention of military involvement in Lebanon, saying Syria’s priority is ending conflicts, not entering new ones.

What to watch

The key question is no longer just whether the U.S.-Iran agreement will hold. It is whether Washington is attempting to open a new track in Lebanon through Damascus. If Trump’s proposal evolves beyond rhetoric, Syria could find itself playing a direct role in the Hezbollah file for the first time in years—a scenario likely to unsettle Israel and reshape calculations along Lebanon’s southern border.

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Attention is turning to Washington as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi prepares for a visit to the United States in July, while reports indicate Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa may also be planning a trip to the White House.

The developments come as President Donald Trump’s administration reassesses its regional priorities and looks to strengthen political and economic partnerships across the Middle East.

According to Rudaw, economic and investment issues will dominate al-Zaidi’s discussions in Washington, alongside broader strategic relations between Baghdad and the United States.

The visit carries particular significance for al-Zaidi, who took office only months ago after a prolonged political deadlock following Iraq’s 2025 elections.

Details

• Baghdad is seeking greater U.S. investment and deeper economic cooperation as a central pillar of its government agenda.

• Iraq continues to face economic pressure linked to regional instability and disruptions affecting trade and energy routes.

• The Iraqi government is also attempting to curb the influence of Iran-backed armed groups, increasing its need for political and economic support from Washington.

• Reports suggest Ahmad al-Sharaa is considering a White House visit as Damascus seeks to capitalize on improving ties with the Trump administration and efforts to ease sanctions on Syria.

• Syria is looking to attract foreign investment and accelerate reconstruction projects while promoting regional energy, transport, and trade initiatives.

• U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack oversees both the Iraqi and Syrian files, giving Washington a unified diplomatic channel for engagement with the two countries.

• The diplomatic activity comes as the international coalition’s mission against ISIS nears its conclusion in both Iraq and Syria, potentially opening a new phase focused on economic development and regional stability.

Iraq and Syria in Washington’s Calculations

The emerging diplomatic track appears to be about more than routine bilateral meetings.

Baghdad is seeking to rebalance its foreign relationships and reduce dependence on Iran, while Damascus is attempting to reposition itself as a credible regional economic and political partner.

At the same time, the Trump administration is working to demonstrate that it can stabilize Iraq and Syria while pursuing a broader understanding with Tehran. That gives the potential visits significance beyond traditional diplomacy.

What to watch

The key question is whether Washington’s approach will remain focused on economic support or evolve into a broader regional strategy designed to reduce Iranian influence and integrate Iraq and Syria into new economic and security frameworks backed by the United States and its partners.

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The latest

Washington and Tehran are still moving toward a possible deal, but the battlefield is moving in the opposite direction.

Trump said Iran wants an agreement and argued that any deal would be good for the United States and its allies. He also pushed back at Democrats and some Republicans questioning his approach, saying their criticism makes negotiations harder.

But the military track is getting more dangerous. U.S. Central Command said American forces struck Iranian radar and drone command-and-control sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island after Iran allegedly shot down a U.S. MQ-1 drone over international waters.

Details:

• The IRGC said it targeted the base used to launch the U.S. strike on Sirik Island in Hormozgan province.

• Kuwait said its air defenses were responding to missile and drone attacks, without immediately identifying their source.

• Iran’s foreign minister said talk of a deal with Washington remains “speculation” until a final text is completed.

• Tasnim News, which is close to the IRGC, reported that Iran will submit amendments to the draft memorandum of understanding with the United States.

• Axios reported, citing a Lebanese official, that the IRGC has been pushing Hezbollah to escalate against Israel to improve Tehran’s leverage in talks with Washington.

• Netanyahu said he instructed the Israeli military to expand its operation in Lebanon.

• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli troops will remain at Beaufort Castle after capturing the strategic hilltop site in southern Lebanon.

• Lebanon’s Health Ministry said eight people, including three women, were killed in an Israeli strike on southern Lebanon. Another 19 were wounded.

• Israeli forces carried out new incursions into southern Syria, entering parts of Quneitra and Deraa before withdrawing.

What to watch

The picture is messy: Trump wants a fast deal with Iran, but the region is heating up around the talks. The Gulf is seeing strikes and counterstrikes. Lebanon is back at the center of the war. Syria is again becoming a pressure point for Israeli operations.

The deal is still alive. But it is now surrounded by fire.

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