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Syria Project

The Syria Project advances policy engagement and international partnerships during a pivotal political transition. It serves as a leading platform for independent analysis and high-level dialogue on US-Syria relations, economic recovery, governance, and regional reintegration, leveraging deep networks across Washington, Damascus, and the broader Middle East.

Learn more about the Middle East programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

Content

SyriaSource

Apr 13, 2017

Trump’s Syria Policy is Aggressive, but Is It Effective?

By Sam Fouad

According to Defense Secretary James Mattis, the US priority remains defeating the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), bringing the focus back to the long battle in Mosul, and the pending battle in Raqqa after the US military strikes on Shayrat airbase. In the battle against ISIS, US strategy has evolved in the Trump administration’s first […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 12, 2017

Hezbollah’s Balancing Act Between Syria and Lebanon

By Ali Alfoneh

Lebanese Hezbollah was founded on the doctrine of resistance against Israel. Since at least 2012 however, the Shia militia has fought in neighboring Syria on Iran’s behalf to secure the survival of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and thereby maintain its own overland corridor to Tehran. Though it has succeeded, along with Iran and Russia, in stabilizing […]

Syria

In the News

Apr 12, 2017

Hof Quoted by Business Insider on the Trump Administration’s Evolving Syria Policy

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Apr 12, 2017

Stein in War on the Rocks: It Didn’t Have to Be This Way: Finding Leverage in Syria

By Aaron Stein

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Apr 12, 2017

Pavel Quoted by Fox News on Chemical Weapons in Syria

By Barry Pavel

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Apr 12, 2017

Cohen Joins Bloomberg to Discuss Vladimir Putin, Syria, and Oil

By Ariel Cohen

Listen to the full interview here.

Russia Syria

In the News

Apr 11, 2017

Itani Quoted by the Huffington Post on the Russia-Syria Relationship

By Faysal Itani

Read the full article here.

Russia Syria

In the News

Apr 11, 2017

Herbst Joins CBC News to Discuss Tillerson’s Visit to Moscow and US Policy for Ukraine and Syria

By John E. Herbst

Watch the full interview here.

Russia Syria

In the News

Apr 11, 2017

Farkas’ Op-Ed “Is Russia Testing Trump?” Featured by the Guardian on the Syrian Conflict

By Evelyn Farkas

Read the full article here.

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 11, 2017

Syria: Get Civilians Off the Bullseye

By Frederic C. Hof

Before sunup in Syria on April 7, 2017, fifty-nine sea-launched cruise missiles were impacting on a Syrian airbase from which aircraft loaded with chemical munitions had been launched three days earlier. The alacrity of President Trump’s kinetic response to Bashar al-Assad’s chemical assault on civilians contrasted sharply with the paralysis of his predecessor. 

Syria

Experts