Syria

Economic Sanctions Entrepreneurship

Fellow

Michel Duclos

Conflict Crisis Management

Fellow

Arwa Damon

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Ömer Özkizilcik

Nonresident Fellow

Arabic English

Fellow

Sinan Hatahet

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Arabic Economic Sanctions

Former fellow

Hind Kabawat

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Diana Rayes

Online Event Thu, December 19, 2024 • 12:30 pm ET

Arabic Civil Society

Past events

Putin loses in Syria. Is Russia in retreat?

Conflict Europe & Eurasia Middle East Russia

Online Event Tue, May 21, 2024 • 10:30 am ET

Exploring investment opportunities in northwest Syria

Conflict Economic Sanctions Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Event Recap

Mar 29, 2024

Launching the Syria Strategy Project

By JP Reppeto and Charles Johnson

On March 18, 2024, the Atlantic Council’s Syria Project, the Middle East Institute’s Syria Program, the European Institute of Peace, and Madaniya Civil Society Network launched the Syria Strategy, an intensive process of engagement with subject matter experts and policymakers in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East to develop a holistic strategy to […]

Civil Society Conflict

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.

EXPLORE THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS

Content

Inflection Points

Dec 18, 2024

The stage is set for Trump’s global leadership moment

By Frederick Kempe

The lightning-like fall of the Assad regime in Syria reveals larger weaknesses in Russia and Iran. These weaknesses present the incoming president with three historic opportunities.

China Lebanon

UkraineAlert

Dec 17, 2024

Putin’s quiet Syrian surrender reveals the weakness behind his intimidation tactics

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin’s inability to save his Syrian ally Bashar Assad is a timely reminder that Russia is far weaker than many appreciate and Western fears of Kremlin escalation are wildly exaggerated, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2024

Dispatch from Damascus: Celebrations and concerns as a new Syria takes shape

By Ömer Özkizilcik

Syrians in Damascus are celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, but that joy is mixed with concern for how the country’s new leaders will govern.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Rich Outzen joins TRT World’s Strait Talk to discuss the developments in Middle East

Conflict Middle East

New Atlanticist

A blueprint for bringing about a new Syria

By Kirsten Fontenrose

For a reconstruction strategy in Syria to be effective, all parties must adopt a unified approach that is clear-eyed about the country’s new leaders.

Crisis Management International Organizations

MENASource

Where Syria goes next after the fall of Assad

By Frederic C. Hof

With the Assad family agone, Syria, at long last, has a chance to achieve the kind of political transition envisioned by the 2012 Geneva Final Communique and UNSCR 2254.

Conflict Middle East

In the News

Resident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Charai in The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: Assad’s Downfall: A Turning Point in the Middle East

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Dec 9, 2024

Dispatch from Doha: Assad’s fall, Iran’s weakness, and the impact of unintended consequences

By Jonathan Panikoff

In just six months, Iran has slid from a position of strength to perhaps the weakest it has been since 1979.

Conflict Iran

Fast Thinking

Dec 8, 2024

Assad has fallen. Now what?

By Atlantic Council

The power shift in Syria will reverberate across the Middle East and the world. Our experts explain what's next.

Conflict Iran

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2024

Experts react: Rebels have toppled the Assad regime. What’s next for Syria, the Middle East, and the world?

By Atlantic Council experts

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has been ousted as opposition forces quickly took the Syrian capital. Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the developments.

Conflict Corruption

Experts

Fellow

Ibrahim Al-Assil

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Marie Forestier

Arabic French

Fellow

Amany Qaddour

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Diana Rayes

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Staff

Elise Baker

Senior Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project