Featured reading

Explore our Syria work


Syria Project

Our work on Syria sheds light on the ongoing struggle of Syrians to fulfill their desire for democratic self-governance as the United States and the international community grapple with the aftermath of a devastating civil war, millions of refugees across the Middle East and Europe, and ongoing security and political challenges spilling over Syria’s borders.


Group of world leaders sitting around table set up.

Syria Strategy Project

The Atlantic Council, Middle East Institute, and European Institute of Peace collaborate with subject matter experts and policymakers in the US, Europe, and the Middle East to develop a holistic strategy to sustainably forge a pathway to resolving Syria’s crisis.

Featured experts

Leadership

Fellows

Past events

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.

Sign up for all the latest updates!

Sign up for the MENASource newsletter, highlighting pieces that follow democratic transitions and economic changes throughout the region.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


Content

Rebuilding Syria

Mar 1, 2017

It’s Time to Plan for Rebuilding Syria

By Faysal Itani and Tobias Schneider

Caught in the sixth year of its interminable civil war, Syria today is beset by a combination of fleeting ceasefires, bombings, localized offensives, and meandering negotiations. Most of the country is controlled either by terrorist groups or by a weak, isolated central government in Damascus. Meanwhile, the United States finds itself in the midst of […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Mar 1, 2017

Hezbollah’s Diplomacy in Qalamoun

By Rhys Dubin

The past several weeks have been good for Hezbollah—both in their domestic stronghold in Lebanon and their Syrian areas of operation. In Lebanon for example, President Michel Aoun recently went out of his way to uncharacteristically praise the group’s militia. Though many other Lebanese politicians attempted to walk back his phrasing, the President’s words illustrated […]

Syria

In the News

Feb 28, 2017

Stein in War on the Rocks: De-Conflicting Turkish, Kurdish, And American Aims in Syria

By Aaron Stein

Read full article here.

Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 28, 2017

Interview with the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo (FMAA)

By Youssef Sadaki

While Moscow is re-classifying armed groups as terrorist organizations on the ground in Syria, and the new US administration is attempting to identify and enable partners in its fight against the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) coalition in order to set policies, we are now faced with questions that have long haunted the Syrian […]

Syria

In the News

Feb 27, 2017

Bechev Quoted by Middle East Eye on Russia-Iran Alliance and the Astana Talks

By Dimitar Bechev

Read full article here.

Iran Russia

In the News

Feb 26, 2017

Gold Quoted by the New York Times on ISIS in Iraq and Syria

By Zack Gold

Read full article here.

Iraq Syria

In the News

Feb 24, 2017

Eliot Higgins quoted by McClatchy on Breaking Aleppo report

By Eliot Higgins

Eliot Higgins, Nonresident Senior Fellow for the DFRLab, spoke to McClatchy DC on the methodology behind the Breaking Aleppo report.

Disinformation English

In the News

Feb 23, 2017

Stein Quoted by Agence France-Presse on the Syrian Conflict

By Aaron Stein

Read full article here.

Syria

In the News

Feb 23, 2017

Czuperski joins CNN to discuss Atlantic Council’s Breaking Aleppo report

By Maksymilian Czuperski

Maks Czuperski, director of the Atlantic Council's DFRLab, speaks to Christiane Amanpour about the center's new report "Breaking Aleppo."

Disinformation English

In the News

Feb 23, 2017

Alami in Middle Eastern Eye: Advice for the Syrian Opposition: Make a Deal with Russia to Curb Iran

By Mona Alami

Read full article here.

Russia Syria

Experts