Featured reading

Saab on Combatting ISIS in 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

Saab on Combatting ISIS in 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

Saab on Combatting ISIS in 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

Saab on Combatting ISIS in 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

Saab on Combatting ISIS in 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.


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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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Featured experts

Leadership

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Qutaiba Idlbi


Resident Senior Fellow, Syria

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economic Sanctions
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Michel Duclos


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict
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Arwa Damon


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Civil Society

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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 […]

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Conflict

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Content

In the News

Nov 17, 2015

Saab on Combatting ISIS in Syria

By Bilal Saab

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab joins KCBS News Radio to discuss what it will take for the West to unite with Russia and other countries in the Middle East in a broad coalition to combat ISIS in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Nov 17, 2015

Shaffer on the Russian War on Terror

By Brenda Shaffer

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Brenda Shaffer joins The Bloomberg Advantage Podcast to discuss Russia’s war on terror and how the recent attacks in Paris will affect Russia’s Syria strategy:

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 17, 2015

Top News: November 17, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Kerry says Syria could be ‘weeks away’ from transition– France deploys aircraft carrier to support Syria raids– Russia ‘outraged’ at accusations it killed civilians in Syria– Syrian Kurdish-Arab alliance captures nearly 200 villages from ISIS– US ground invasion out of the question; US, Turkey launch operation to take border with Syria – Kurdistan continues to […]

Syria

Defense Industrialist

Nov 17, 2015

More bombs on Al-Baghdadi

By James Hasik

The GCC air forces need, deserve, and can handle outside support. The tragedy of Paris this past weekend may eventually prove to have been the beginning of the end for the Al-Baghdadi Gang in Al-Raqqah. Wantonly attacking the citizens of two UN Security Council members in a week wasn’t just heinous, it was stupid. So […]

Defense Industry Saudi Arabia

In the News

Nov 17, 2015

Hof: We’ve Been Bombing ISIS for Over a Year. It’s Time for Ground Troops.

By Frederic Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof writes for the Huffington Post on why the attacks in Paris by ISIS-affiliated gunmen necessitate putting boots on the ground to remove ISIS from Syria:

France Syria

MENASource

Nov 17, 2015

ISIS and the Paris Attacks, ‘An Act of War’

By Nabeel Khoury

The words of French President Francois Hollande, commenting on the Paris attacks still unfolding at the time of his statement, resonated with many here in the United States where similar words were used after 9/11. Those in Washington will recall telling the White House that what happens in Syria (and the Middle East) does not […]

Middle East Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 17, 2015

The Islamic State’s Molding of Syrian Children

By Feras Hanoush

ISIS is recruiting a new wave of combatants into its ranks following the joint forces’ advances into Raqqa province and to assert its control over larger swaths of the northern outskirts of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that between January and August 2015 1,100 children under the age of sixteen have been […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 16, 2015

Vienna II: Civilian Protection Lite

By Frederic C. Hof

The countries and organizations attending the second round of Syria talks in Vienna, now calling themselves the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), gave short shrift in their written statement to those Syrians most in need of their support: the victims—past, present, and future—of the Assad regime’s relentless program of mass homicide. Buried in a pile […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 16, 2015

Top News: November 16, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Two US states shun Syria refugees in wake of Paris attacks– US warplanes strike ISIS oil trucks; US delivers ammunition to Syrians fighting ISIS– After Paris attacks, French jets pound ISIS– Nusra Front kills leader of ISIS affiliate– World powers push timetable for Syria solution– Iraq warned of attacks before Paris assault

Syria

In the News

Nov 15, 2015

Hof on the Need for Action Following the Paris Attacks

By Frederic C. Hof

The Los Angeles Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on how the recent Paris attacks might affect US policy toward ISIS:

Syria
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Experts

Fellow

Sarkawt Shamsulddin

Nonresident Fellow

Iraq Initiative

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Samantha Sultoon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba East Asia

Fellow

Thomas S. Warrick

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

National Security Terrorism