Featured reading

More bombs on Al-Baghdadi

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
More bombs on Al-Baghdadi

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
More bombs on Al-Baghdadi

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
More bombs on Al-Baghdadi

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
More bombs on Al-Baghdadi

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

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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.

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

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The Syria Strategy Project: A public launch
Civil Society Conflict Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights
Online Event Mon, February 12, 2024 • 12:00 pm ET

One year on: Assessing the February 6th earthquake response in Syria
Civil Society Economy & Business Human Rights International Organizations
Online Event Fri, May 31, 2024 • 9:30 am ET

Serving communities with disability in conflict contexts
Civil Society Conflict Crisis Management Human Rights
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Content

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

In the News

Nov 13, 2015

Hof on a Pathway to a Political Settlement in Syria

By Frederic Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof joins BBC World News to discuss the crisis in Syria and how to put Syria on a pathway to a political settlement:

Syria

In the News

Nov 13, 2015

Slavin Joins Issues in the News

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Voice of America’s Issues in the News to discuss the attack by Kurdish forces on ISIS militants in Syria and Iraq, the elections in Myanmar, Russia’s plan for Syria, and the republican presidential debate:

Iraq Russia

In the News

Nov 13, 2015

Janeka on the US Strategy in Syria

By Marri Janeka

Middle East Peace and Security Initiative Assistant Director Marri Janeka joins Estonian Public Broadcasting to discuss Secretary of State John Kerry’s comments on Syria and whether current strategies have been effective at addressing the governance gaps, sectarian issues, and the rise of extremist groups in Syria:

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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