From left to right: Amos Hochstein, Morgan Ortagus, and Thomas Barrack. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP, Mohammad Azakir/Reuters, and Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient-Le Jour.)
One U.S. envoy replaces another in Lebanon. In recent months, Beirut had grown accustomed to dealing with Morgan Ortagus, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East. But with her sidelined by President Donald Trump's administration, the Lebanese portfolio has now been handed to Thomas Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria — a temporary arrangement until a full-time envoy is appointed.Currently visiting Lebanon to advance the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament, Tom Barrack is among the high-ranking Americans who, since at least 2019, have tried to push Lebanon toward major political changes. Has he succeeded? As this official, whose origins trace back to Zahleh (Bekaa), continues his meetings with Lebanese leaders, L’Orient Today looks back at the American envoys who have worked on Lebanon since the start of...
One U.S. envoy replaces another in Lebanon. In recent months, Beirut had grown accustomed to dealing with Morgan Ortagus, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East. But with her sidelined by President Donald Trump's administration, the Lebanese portfolio has now been handed to Thomas Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria — a temporary arrangement until a full-time envoy is appointed.Currently visiting Lebanon to advance the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament, Tom Barrack is among the high-ranking Americans who, since at least 2019, have tried to push Lebanon toward major political changes. Has he succeeded? As this official, whose origins trace back to Zahleh (Bekaa), continues his meetings with Lebanese leaders, L’Orient Today looks back at the American envoys who have worked on Lebanon since the...
