Featured reading

Hof Quoted by the Christian Science Monitor on a ‘Plan B’ for Syria

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

Hof Quoted by the Christian Science Monitor on a ‘Plan B’ for Syria

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

Hof Quoted by the Christian Science Monitor on a ‘Plan B’ for Syria

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

Hof Quoted by the Christian Science Monitor on a ‘Plan B’ for Syria

MENASource
Dec 10, 2024

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

Hof Quoted by the Christian Science Monitor on a ‘Plan B’ for Syria

New Atlanticist
Dec 10, 2024

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

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.

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Featured experts

Leadership

Fellow


Qutaiba Idlbi


Resident Senior Fellow, Syria

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economic Sanctions
Entrepreneurship

Fellows

Fellow


Michel Duclos


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict
Crisis Management

Fellow


Arwa Damon


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Civil Society

Fellow


Ömer Özkizilcik


Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
English

Fellow


Sinan Hatahet


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Economic Sanctions

Former fellow


Hind Kabawat


Former Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Civil Society

Fellow


Diana Rayes 


Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Civil Society

Past events

Public Event
Mon, September 19, 2022 • 9:30 am ET

Safeguarding victims and witnesses in atrocity crime trials: A call to courts and governments

Americas
Human Rights
International Organizations
Iran

Online Event
Thu, June 16, 2022 • 10:00 am ET

From Syria to Ukraine: Russia’s continued attacks on healthcare in conflict

Europe & Eurasia
Human Rights
International Norms
International Organizations

Online Event
Mon, November 22, 2021 • 9:30 am ET

Transnational narcotics networks: Challenges in Lebanon, Syria, and Afghanistan

Afghanistan
Lebanon
Middle East
Syria

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Middle East Programs

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Content

In the News

Apr 27, 2016

Hof Quoted by the Christian Science Monitor on a ‘Plan B’ for Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

Syria

MENASource

Apr 26, 2016

ISIS and Turkey: The Rocket Threat to Kilis

By Aaron Stein

The Turkish town of Kilis, located just three miles from the Syrian border, has come under rocket fire from Islamic State (ISIS) controlled territory in Syria. The intensity of the rocket attacks increased since April putting upward pressure on the Turkish government to address the threat. According to an on-going Atlantic Council study, the rockets […]

Syria Turkey

In the News

Apr 26, 2016

Daniels Joins Rudaw to Discuss the Effect of US Troops on Syrian Kurds

By Owen Daniels

Watch the full story here.

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 26, 2016

A Closer Look at the Educational System of ISIS

By Hosam al-Jablawi

Two years after the Islamic State (ISIS) seized Raqqa and a number of areas in Syria, it successfully asserted itself and its way of thinking on most aspects of city life. ISIS’s changes encompass the social, educational, and cultural institutions. To make these changes, ISIS has at times used coercion and compulsion, and at other […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 26, 2016

Remarks of Ambassador Frederic C. Hof at the Aspen Ministers Forum

By Frederic C. Hof

Ambassador Hof attended the Aspen Ministers Forum in Oslo, Norway, and on April 22 he opened the conference with a talk about Syria. The conference focused on the migrant crisis and featured the participation of about 20 former foreign ministers, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 26, 2016

#5YearsWeFled: Putting Your Life in a Dinghy

By Ayman Jalwan

This series is from interviews with the lawyer Ayman Jalwan. It highlights the difficult choice that Syrians face—dying in the war zone that Syria had become, or flee the land he loved. Last year, he and his wife said goodbye to their families and joined the wave of citizens leaving the country. First they had […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 25, 2016

A Kurdish Youth Initiative to Unify the Kurds’ Political Vision?

By Jiwan Soz

Young Syrian Kurds launched a new initiative on April 1 to give voice to the Kurdish youth who demand a unified Kurdish position amongst political movements in Syria. Those in charge of the initiative said, “This initiative is not a movement, a political party, or a new organization. And it will not become one. The […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 25, 2016

Civilians die, but the straw man lives

By Frederic C. Hof

No political progress toward ending Syria's agony and the horrific hemorrhage of its people is possible without first passing through the portal of civilian protection.

Syria

In the News

Apr 22, 2016

Hof in EU Observer: Europe Must Take Lead on Protecting Syrian Civilians

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

European Union International Organizations

SyriaSource

Apr 20, 2016

Assad: Impunity and Defiance

By Frederic C. Hof

Assad regime air strikes on vegetable markets in the towns of Maarat al-Numan and Kafr Nubl in northwestern Syria fully resumed the all-out war against Syrian civilians. The supremely confident Bashar al-Assad, having been carried to a military comfort zone by foreign fighters in the air and on the ground, accomplished something of note in […]

Syria
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Experts

Fellow

Amany Qaddour 

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Diana Rayes 

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Staff

Elise Baker

Senior Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Extremism

Fellow

Nicholas Blanford

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Alia Brahimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society
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