Syria

Economic Sanctions
Entrepreneurship

Fellows

Fellow

Michel Duclos

Conflict
Crisis Management

Fellow

Arwa Damon

Arabic
Civil Society

Fellow

Ömer Özkizilcik

Nonresident Fellow

Arabic
English

Fellow

Sinan Hatahet

Arabic
Economic Sanctions

Former fellow

Hind Kabawat

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Arabic
Civil Society

Fellow

Diana Rayes

Online Event
Thu, December 19, 2024 • 12:30 pm ET

Arabic
Civil Society

Past events

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 […]

Civil Society
Conflict

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 the MENASource newsletter, highlighting pieces that follow democratic transitions and economic changes throughout the region.

Content

SyriaSource

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

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

NATOSource

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

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

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

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

SyriaSource

Top News: Syrian Army Pushes Offensive in Central Homs

By Syria Source

Syrian army pushes offensive in central Homs Syrian government forces launched an offensive Thursday in the central province of Homs under the cover of Russian air strikes in an attempt to clear the central region of militants and open the highway between Syria’s third and fourth largest cities, a military official and activists said. Hama […]

Syria

SyriaSource

I got Syria so Wrong

By Frederic C. Hof

I spent early 2011 trying to ease tensions between Syria and its neighbors. I never predicted the brutality that would come from inside. Now and then I am asked if I had predicted, way back in March 2011 when violence in Syria began, that within a few years a quarter-million people would be dead, half […]

Syria

In the News

Hof: I Got Syria So Wrong

By Frederic Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof writes for POLITICO on the origins of the Syrian conflict, what he got wrong, and what the Obama administration needs to do to change course:

Syria

SyriaSource

Oct 14, 2015

The Baathist Colonization of the Syrian

By Khaled Rawas

Syrians stood up against the Assad regime’s tyranny, many sacrificing their lives to bring freedom to their country. However, the near half-century of endemic corruption has left its mark on Syrians and their attitude toward government and private institutions. The corruption that the Assad regime sowed to keep itself in power has permeated Syrian society. […]

Syria

Experts

Fellow

Amany Qaddour

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Diana Rayes

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Staff

Elise Baker

Senior Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Civil Society Extremism

Fellow

Nicholas Blanford

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Alia Brahimi