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

SyriaSource

Sep 23, 2016

The MOC’s Role in the Collapse of the Southern Opposition

By Youssef Sadaki

The southern fronts in Syria have come to near standstill: the opposition’s dream to topple Damascus is unachievable, while factions in Daraa and Damascus fight amongst themselves. How did this happen when there were such high hopes of victory for factions in the south, especially after they united under an umbrella group called the Southern […]

Syria

In the News

Sep 23, 2016

Hof Quoted by Reuters on Syrian Ceasefire Failure Facing Obama’s Successor

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Sep 22, 2016

Alami in Middle East Eye: Syria: War Without End

By Mona Alami

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Sep 22, 2016

Hof Quoted by StarTribune on The Need for Continued Pressure on Russia in Syrian Ceasefire

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Sep 21, 2016

Why Turkey Taking al-Bab is a Bad Idea

By Aaron Stein

Operation Euphrates Shield—Turkey’s recent incursion into Syrian territory—succeeded in its initial goals of clearing the Islamic State (ISIS) from its border and preventing the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG (People’s Protection Units), from taking the city of Jarablus. Turkish military forces and allied Arab and Turkmen insurgent groups now control a 55-mile strip of territory […]

Syria

In the News

Sep 21, 2016

Alami in The New Arab: Syria’s Rebels wWon’t Abandon Former al-Qaeda Allies

By Mona Alami

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Sep 21, 2016

Hof in Defense News: Syria: Picking Up the Pieces

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Sep 21, 2016

Hof Quoted by Christian Science Monitor on the US-Russia Ceasefire for Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

Russia Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 20, 2016

Syria Ceasefire: Beyond Hope?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States and Russia have little chance of resurrecting the fragile Syria ceasefire, said Frederic C. Hof, director of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. “The odds do not favor the ceasefire being salvaged, sad to say,” said Hof, who served in the Obama administration as a special adviser for […]

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Sep 20, 2016

Who Will Succeed Al-Adnani?

By Feras Hanoush

The death of Abu Muhammad al-Adnani al-Shami, official spokesperson of ISIS, on August 30 dealt a harsh blow to the organization. Al-Adnani was killed in international coalition airstrikes while in the city of al-Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, for the significant role he played in the Islamic State (ISIS) since the organization was […]

Syria

Experts