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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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Content

In the News

Sep 17, 2015

Cohen: Power Projection: Who Will Win in Syria

By Ariel Cohen

Global Energy Center and Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen writes for Forbes Russia on Russian intervention in Syria: Read the full article here.

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 17, 2015

Hof on Russian Support to Syria: “A Real Houston-We-Have-a-Problem Moment”

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof joins NPR’s All Things Considered to discuss the United States’ concerns over Russia’s aid to President Bashar al-Assad in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 17, 2015

Hof on US Policy Failures in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

The New Yorker quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the difficulties of implementing US policy solutions to solve the crisis in Syria:

Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2015

Is a US-Russia Confrontation Over Syria in the Cards?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The Obama administration will have to confront Russia and Iran—supporters of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—if it wants to win the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), Frederic C. Hof, a Resident Senior Fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center, said September 16. Russia’s recently ramped up military presence in […]

Iran Russia

Defense Industrialist

Sep 16, 2015

An ISIS Air Force?

By Blake Franko

The Threat of Poor Man’s Air Power In a not too distant future, war has broken out between NATO and Russia. Battles are being fought all over Europe and Russian forces are moving to capture Paris. With sizable ground forces and air dominance, US helicopters and tilt-rotors are supporting the troops overhead, forcing Russian troops to retreat. […]

Syria

In the News

Sep 16, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Strategy in Ukraine and Syria

By John Herbst

USA Today quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on Russia’s failure to implement the ceasefire in Ukraine and Putin’s military assistance for the Assad regime in Syria:

Russia Syria
Gen. Petr Pavel, Chairman of NATO Military Committee and Gen. Hulusi Akar, Chief of the General Staff of Turkey, Sept. 12, 2015

NATOSource

Sep 16, 2015

Turkey’s Top Military Commander Sees ISIL Activities As Serious Threat to NATO’s Security

By Hulusi Akar, NATO

Welcome to Turkey. We are delighted to host the NATO Military Committee CHODs’ Conference today in Istanbul.

Iraq NATO

Webcasts

Sep 16, 2015

Protecting Civilians in Syria: Policy Options

By Rafik Hariri Center

Images of dead Syrian children washing ashore in Turkey may serve to overcome that which is charitably described as “Syria fatigue:” widespread American and international apathy in the face of a grotesque and growing humanitarian abomination in which civilians are deliberately targeted for murder. This is a catastrophe with policy consequences. What are its dimensions […]

Syria

In the News

Sep 15, 2015

Itani on Support for Syrian Insurgents

By Faysal Itani

Vice News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on international support for the Syrian opposition:

Syria

SyriaSource

Sep 15, 2015

Syria: What to do About the Russian Challenge

By Frederic C. Hof

Russia’s military buildup on a Syrian airbase south of Latakia combined with the escalating hemorrhage of Syrian humanity confronts President Barack Obama’s administration with facts it has tried mightily to avoid for years: the Syrian crisis is not containable; it cannot be held at arm’s length; and it cannot be treated with mantra-like incantations about […]

Iran Russia

Experts