Featured reading

Russia Bombing Syrians Displaced by War, Says Syrian Activist

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

Russia Bombing Syrians Displaced by War, Says Syrian Activist

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

Russia Bombing Syrians Displaced by War, Says Syrian Activist

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

Russia Bombing Syrians Displaced by War, Says Syrian Activist

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

Russia Bombing Syrians Displaced by War, Says Syrian Activist

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.


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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

Fellow


Qutaiba Idlbi


Resident Senior Fellow, Syria

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economic Sanctions
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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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Mon, March 18, 2024 • 1:00 pm ET

The Syria Strategy Project: A public launch

Civil Society
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Freedom and Prosperity
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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
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International Organizations

Online Event
Fri, May 31, 2024 • 9:30 am ET

Serving communities with disability in conflict contexts

Civil Society
Conflict
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Human Rights

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Content

New Atlanticist

Nov 6, 2015

Russia Bombing Syrians Displaced by War, Says Syrian Activist

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Russian warplanes have bombed not just moderate rebel groups, but also critical civilian infrastructure and people fleeing the war in Syria, a prominent Syrian civil society activist said at the Atlantic Council on Nov. 6. “Russia claims that they are fighting against [the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham] … but ISIS is 100 kilometers […]

Syria

In the News

Nov 6, 2015

Stein on Turkish Concern over US Support for Kurds

By Aaron Stein

The World Post quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aaron Stein on US-Turkish cooperation in Syria given the increasingly supportive stance of the United States toward Syrian Kurds:

Syria Turkey

Event Recap

Nov 6, 2015

Fighting ISIS and al-Qaeda through Syrian Civil Society

By Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

On November 6, 2015 the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted renowned media activist and civil society leader Mr. Raed Fares. Mr. Fares founded the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus, which provides services to over one million Syrians including running water and an FM radio station. He is well-known for the witty […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 6, 2015

Top News: November 6, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Syrian rebels recapture village from regime forces in western Syria; Russia, Turkey discuss Syria– Mustard gas used in Syria in August– Russian air strikes kill forty-two in Raqqa– Turkish police detain twenty ISIS suspects; Crackdown on Gulen continues

Syria

MENASource

Nov 6, 2015

Is there Common Ground over Syria?

By MENASource

The Emirates Policy Center’s second Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate that took place on November 1 brought policymakers, former officials, academics, and analysts from the Middle East and elsewhere together to discuss the most pressing strategic issues facing the region.

Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 5, 2015

Keeping Vienna on Track

By Frederic C. Hof

If the Vienna Joint Communique of October 30, 2015 is to spur progress toward peace and political transition in Syria, the United States and its partners must first devise and agree upon a comprehensive collective strategy. With all respect to the dogged creativity of Secretary of State John Kerry, the administration’s eagerness for a deal […]

Syria

In the News

Nov 5, 2015

Hof: A Syria-First Strategy for Defeating ISIS

By Frederic Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof writes for The Atlantic on why protecting civilians from Assad is the first step toward a negotiated political transition  in Syria:

Syria

In the News

Nov 5, 2015

Hof on US Support for Syria’s Rebels

By Frederic C. Hof

The Los Angeles Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the Obama administration’s plan to send US special operations forces to aid Syrian rebels:

Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 5, 2015

Top News: November 5, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Russia sent missile systems to Syria, personnel force grows to 4,000 – Pentagon welcomes advance by ISIS-fighting allies in Syria– Rebels seize military base in western Hama– Water crisis leaves Damascus residents thirsty– Kurdish rebels end unilateral ceasefire declaration– Turkey agrees access to Cyprus army zone graves in search for missing– Former Iraqi Environment Minister […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 4, 2015

ISIS’s Malice for the People of Deir Ezzor

By Fikram

If one wishes to live safely in Deir Ezzor, he must swear allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS). ISIS grants those who pledge their loyalty lucrative pensions and salaries, the best living accommodations, and favorable treatment, allowing said individuals to do what they want and come and go as they please—even after ISIS sealed the […]

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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