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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.


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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.

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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

In the News

Aug 25, 2016

Stein Quoted by Agence France-Presse on Turkey’s Motivations for its Operation in Syria

By Aaron Stein

Read the full article here.

Syria Turkey

New Atlanticist

Aug 24, 2016

Making Sense of Turkey’s Intervention in Syria

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels on August 24 seized an Islamic State stronghold in Syria. The military operation marks a significant escalation of Turkey’s role in the war against the Islamic State and comes days after the Turkish government vowed to “cleanse” its borders of the militants. Aaron Stein and Faysal Itani, both senior resident fellows in […]

Syria Turkey

In the News

Aug 24, 2016

Itani in Foreign Policy: Why Turkey Went to War in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Read the full article here.

Syria Turkey

In the News

Aug 24, 2016

Stein Joins PRI to Discuss Turkey’s Fight against ISIS in Syria

By Aaron Stein

Listen to the full interview here.

Syria Turkey

SyriaSource

Aug 24, 2016

The SDF takes Manbij but Life is Slow to Return

By Aleppo 24

Local factions in Manbij, in cooperation with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of local forces dominated by Kurdish forces, succeeded on August 11 in ousting the Islamic State (ISIS) from the city after intense fighting that began on May 28 and forced the group to withdraw from the last areas it controlled in al-Sirb, […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Aug 22, 2016

The Nusra Front’s Trap for the Syrian Opposition

By Abdullah al-Ghadawi

On July 31, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as the Nusra Front) launched the battle to break the siege on Aleppo with two suicide bomb operations, a common tactic for the extremist group that, though costly, has won it many battles and the support of other groups. That same day, Abu Yusif al-Muhajir, Ahrar al-Sham’s […]

Syria

In the News

Aug 19, 2016

Itani Quoted by Reuters on US Forces in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Aug 19, 2016

Atlantic Council Blog Post on Iranian Fighters in Syria Featured in the Washington Post

By Atlantic Council

Read the full article here.

Iran Syria

SyriaSource

Aug 19, 2016

The Islamist Factions’ Judicial System in Idlib

By Tirwada Abd al-Haqq

The judiciary system in Idlib is akin to jungle law, in which the powerful use it to impose their rule on the others. Examining the judicial system shows how the role of the military factions use the judiciary to encroach on civilian affairs. Some traditional Islamic concepts like Sharia and ijtihad (freedom for judges to […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Aug 19, 2016

Syria: Will a Child Lead?

By Frederic C. Hof

As Aleppo writhes in torment under bombs dropped by Russian aircraft launched from an Iranian airbase, one wonders if it occurs to anyone in the White House that something has gone horribly wrong. One wonders if anyone in the executive mansion cares. As a blackened and bleeding five-year-old boy testifies with his befuddled gaze to […]

Syria

Experts