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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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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.

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SyriaSource

Oct 19, 2015

Top News: Air strikes on ISIS convoy in Syria kill forty

By Syria Source

Air strikes targeting a motorcade belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) killed at least forty jihadists in central Syria over the weekend. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said unidentified warplanes hit the sixteen-vehicle convoy Saturday night, traveling from the jihadist group’s self-declared capital of Raqqa in northern Syria into the countryside […]

Syria

In the News

Oct 19, 2015

Ullman: Syria 2015: Spain 1938 or Sarajevo June 1914?

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for United Press International on the political and geostrategic impact of Russia’s military intervention in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Oct 17, 2015

Cohen on Turkey and Russia

By Ariel Cohen

International Business Times quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen on the impact of Russian intervention in Syria on its energy deals with Turkey: 

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 16, 2015

Civil Society and the Future of Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

No one can look at the horrors consuming Syria today without being tempted to think that the country is finished. Some who yield to this temptation try to shoehorn their feelings into a specific historical context, often portraying Sykes-Picot as an original sin requiring expiation in the form of new national boundaries. Others tend to […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 16, 2015

Syria: A Welcome but Incomplete Shift in US Strategy against ISIS

By Faysal Itani

The US-Kurdish alliance to dislodge the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) from Syria has been successful only inasmuch as US and Kurdish interests align—the United States wants local partners who will fight ISIS; the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG) will oblige as long as they can reclaim their own territories. However, the YPG is unwilling […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2015

Rethinking the US’ Strategy on ISIS

By Alejandro Alvarez

As Islamist groups continue to gain ground and Russia and Iran become involved in the Syrian conflict, it’s time for the United States to rethink its strategy to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a panel of experts at the Atlantic Council agreed on Oct. 15. Bilal Y. Saab, Resident Senior Fellow […]

Syria
Su-24 fighter bomber, Sept. 26, 2009

NATOSource

Oct 16, 2015

Russia’s Low-Tech Bombing Campaign in Syria Prone to Inflict More Collateral Damage

By Paul McLeary, Foreign Policy

[T]he majority of Russian strikes [in Syria] have used older “dumb” bombs that can’t actually be guided to their intended targets — and are not guaranteed to come anywhere close to hitting them.

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 16, 2015

Top News: More than 250,000 People Killed in Syrian War

By Syria Source

More than a quarter of a million people have been killed in Syria’s conflict since it began over four years ago, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Friday. SOHR relies on networks of sources on the ground in Syria and has documented the deaths of 250,124 people, including at least 74,426 civilians. The […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 15, 2015

Of Barrel Bombs and Jeans

By Fikram

The people of Deir Ezzor, Syria live under both regime bombardment and Islamic State (ISIS) oppression, with neither side willing to concede this key city. Deir Ezzor is strategically important—it not only contains oil wells, but also serves as the gateway to Ramadi and Raqqa, the latter which ISIS calls its capital. Meanwhile the civilians […]

Syria

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Cohen: War in Syria: Time for America to Get Tough on Russia

By Ariel Cohen

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen writes for The National Interest on the potential confrontation between Russia and the United States over Syria:

Russia Syria

Experts