Featured reading

Top News: December 10, 2015

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

Top News: December 10, 2015

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

Top News: December 10, 2015

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

Top News: December 10, 2015

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

Top News: December 10, 2015

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.

LEARN MORE

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

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

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

Load More

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

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

Dec 10, 2015

Top News: December 10, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Saudi FM says Assad must leave or be forced out; Gulf rulers back “political solution” for Syria– Moscow announces trilateral Syria talks in Geneva on Friday– Syria Kurd-Arab coalition creates political wing– Turkey promises legal status to Muslim minority community– ISIS destroys bridge as Iraqi forces close in on Ramadi– Turkey, Iraqi Kurdish leaders […]

Syria

In the News

Dec 10, 2015

Alami: Syrian War Redraws Country’s Economic Map

By Mona Alami

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mona Alami writes for Al-Monitor on Syria’s struggling economy following the start of their civil war in March 2011:

Syria

In the News

Dec 10, 2015

Aslund: Russia’s Nineteenth-Century Approach in Syria

By Anders Aslund

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund writes for The American Interest on the similarities between the strategies and rhetoric of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Czar Nicholas I: 

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Dec 9, 2015

The Personal Choice between Emigrating from and Staying in Syria

By Zaina Erhaim

The choice to emigrate from Syria is a difficult one for Syrians. Despite the war and oppressive rule of extremist groups such as the Islamic State, leaving Syria means braving the unknown and feeling one has abandoned his friends and country. Karam, who asked to only be identified by his first name, said, “I am […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Dec 8, 2015

Top News: December 8, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Russia says too early to confirm Syria talks in New York– Suspected US-led Syria raids kill dozens of civilians– Syrian opposition seeks unified front in Riyadh; Kurds plan summit after exclusion from meeting– UNICEF appeals for $1.1 billion for Syria, neighboring countries– Turkey halts troop deployment to Iraq but will not withdraw– Iraqi forces […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Dec 7, 2015

President Obama and the Terrorist Threat

By Frederic C. Hof

On Sunday evening, December 6, President Barack Obama attempted to assure Americans that he is applying the right array of tools to keep the citizenry as safe as might reasonably be expected from terrorism in a country featuring easy access to military-grade weaponry and a tiny percentage of the population willing to commit mass casualty […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Dec 7, 2015

Top News: December 7, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Obama tells the nation terrorist threat to US is ‘evolving’ but beatable– Assad says Britain’s Syria strikes “illegal”– Fabius: Assad’s departure not necessary before political transition– Syria accuses US-led coalition of killing regime troops– Aid reaches Syrian rebel-held area of Homs– Nusra fighters surrender to regime in south Syria– Turkey slams Russian Bosphorus provocation– […]

Syria

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Ashooh on UK Parliament Vote to Strike ISIS in Syria

By Jessica Ashooh

Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh joins Al Jazeera to discuss the UK Parliament’s vote to authorize air strikes against ISIS in Syria:

Syria United Kingdom

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Slavin on Paris Climate Conference and Syria

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Voice of America’s Issues in the News to moderate a discussion on the climate conference in Paris, ISIS and Syria, and the Iran nuclear report: 

France Iran

MENASource

Dec 4, 2015

The Costs of Turkey’s Foreign Policy in Syria

By M. Hande Akmehmet

Turkey hosted the G20 Summit in Antalya in mid-November against the backdrop of a sliding currency against the dollar and increasing unemployment. As world leaders struggle with the fallout of Syria’s civil war on the political and security fronts, Turkey’s proximity to the conflict and foreign policy have resulted in a direct and indirect economic […]

Russia Syria
Load More

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
Load More