U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon Tom Barrack issued a strong message on Wednesday, calling on Lebanon to resolve its internal divisions and restore its sovereignty, while cautioning against repeating the mistakes of the past.
This is the scene in the aftermath of the bombing of the U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 23, 1983 © US Department of State
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon Tom Barrack issued a strong message on Wednesday, calling on Lebanon to resolve its internal divisions and restore its sovereignty, while cautioning against repeating the mistakes of the past.
His statement, published on X (formerly Twitter), marked the 42nd anniversary of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, one of the deadliest attacks against Americans overseas.
“On October 23, 1983, 241 American Marines, sailors, and soldiers, 58 French servicemen, and six Lebanese civilians were killed when a suicide bomber attacked the Marine barracks in Beirut,” Barrack wrote.
“We honor their memory by remembering the lesson: Lebanon must solve its own divisions and reclaim its sovereignty. America cannot—and must not—repeat the mistakes of the past.”
The United States holds Hezbollah responsible for the bombing, which was carried out by a truck laden with explosives and claimed by Iran-linked groups. The same day, another bombing targeted the French military headquarters at the Drakkar building, killing 58 French paratroopers. Both attacks hit contingents of the Multinational Force in Lebanon, deployed under UN mandate following the 1982 Israeli invasion.
Diplomatic Controversies and Final Weeks in Office
Barrack’s tenure has been marked by controversial remarks and a direct diplomatic style that has drawn criticism from several Lebanese factions. With his role expected to end in the coming weeks, he has recently doubled down on calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Earlier this week, he warned that failure to disarm Hezbollah could trigger another Israeli offensive and potentially lead to a postponement of Lebanon’s May 2026 parliamentary elections, a move he said would plunge the country into “chaos.”
In a speech at the end of September, Barrack also emphasized that the U.S. is not a guarantor of the current ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, stressing that both parties share responsibility and urging the Lebanese people to take action against Hezbollah’s armed status.
Barrack’s final weeks are being closely watched as tensions continue to simmer in southern Lebanon, and the country remains without a president amid deep political paralysis and mounting economic pressure.
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