The American envoy to Syria: Washington is concerned about the safety of the legitimate president and calls for a coordinated protection system.

The U.S. envoy to Syria, Thomas Barak, said today, Tuesday, that Washington is concerned about the safety of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shar'a and calls for a coordinated protection system.

Barak emphasized in statements to "Al-Monitor" that the United States has growing concerns about the safety of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shar'a, pointing to the need for an effective protection system coordinated around him.

He also indicated that Al-Shar'a's efforts to strengthen comprehensive governance and his engagement with the West could make him a potential target for assassination attempts by "angry extremists."

The envoy also warned that "the longer the economic aid to Syria is delayed, the greater the risk of divided groups moving to obstruct the political process."

Barak stressed that effective deterrence of these groups requires close cooperation among the United States' allies in the field of intelligence information exchange, "rather than resorting to direct military intervention."