Featured reading

Itani on US Troops 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

Itani on US Troops 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

Itani on US Troops 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

Itani on US Troops 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

Itani on US Troops 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.


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
Tue, June 13, 2023 • 3:00 pm ET

The mechanisms of corruption in Iran

Civil Society
Democratic Transitions
Economy & Business
Iran

Online Event
Wed, April 19, 2023 • 2:00 pm ET

Insight from the field: The double crisis for Syrian earthquake survivors in Turkey

Civil Society
Middle East
Migration
Resilience

Public Event
Thu, February 23, 2023 • 1:00 pm ET

What can Iran’s protesters learn from other pro-democracy movements?

Civil Society
Democratic Transitions
Economy & Business
Iran

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

In the News

Oct 30, 2015

Itani on US Troops in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Vice News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the Obama administration’s decision to send US special operations forces to Syria to combat ISIS:

Syria

In the News

Oct 30, 2015

Hof on Fighting ISIS in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Air Force Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on what would be effective in fighting ISIS in Syria: 

Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Itani on Syria’s Absence from Peace Talks

By Faysal Itani

Buzzfeed News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the absence of the Syrian government and opposition from upcoming international peace talks:

Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Ashooh on Iran’s Peace Talks Invite

By Jessica Ashooh

Radio France Internationale quotes Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh on the significance of Iran’s invitation to join the international community in seeking a political solution to the war in Syria:

Iran Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Hof on Iran’s Support for Syrian President Assad

By Frederic C. Hof

Bloomberg quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on Iran’s likely reluctance to support a plan ending with the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:

Iran Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Hof on Iranian Support for Hezbollah and Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on Iran’s interests in Syria after being invited to attend peace talks with the United States and Russia:

Iran Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 29, 2015

The West’s Reaction to Syria’s Atrocities is Inaction

By Frederic C. Hof

Frederic C. Hof, Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center, delivered an address on October 28 at the British Parliament. His remarks highlight the courage of one Syrian, known as Caesar, who smuggled out photographs of the Syrian government’s mass killings, in hopes that the West would respond and stop the horrors that are happening. […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 29, 2015

Top News: October 29, 2015

By SyriaSource

Increased strikes kill thirty-five in Syria hospitalsFour-way Syria talks begin in Vienna; Syria criticizes Saudi ArabiaChina, Germany call for political solution in Syria; Russia opposes resolution on barrel bombsMonitoring group reports Russian raids in Syria’s south for first timeTurkey marks 92nd Republic Day amidst deep political, social strainMembers of Iraq’s ruling coalition threaten to withdraw […]

Syria

In the News

Oct 28, 2015

Hof on the Obama Administration’s Response to Syria

By Frederic Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof joins CNN to discuss the Obama administration’s response to the crisis in Syria and why the administration needs to rethink its strategy:

Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 28, 2015

Top News: October 28, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Iran to join international Syria talks– ISIS advances on regime town in north Syria– Syria war costs oil industry over $50 billion – UN programs struggle to meet needs of Syrian refugees– Iraq says did not ask for US ground operations– ISIS behind October 10 Ankara massacre, says Turkey’s chief prosecutor

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