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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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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.

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Content

In the News

Sep 8, 2015

Itani on Iran in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Al-Monitor quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on Iran’s motivations for its policies in Syria: 

Iran Syria

In the News

Sep 8, 2015

Herbst on Russian Advisers in Syria

By John E. Herbst

Voice of America quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on Russian incursions into Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 8, 2015

Slavin: United States Unlikely to Take More Syrian Refugees

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al-Monitor on the US policy towards Syrian refugees: 

Syria

In the News

Sep 7, 2015

Cohen on Russia’s Involvement in Syria

By Ariel Cohen

The Jerusalem Post quotes Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen on the Russia’s involvement in the Syrian conflict:

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 6, 2015

Hof on the Fight against Assad and ISIS in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the Obama administration’s Syria strategy and what it means for ISIS:

Syria

SyriaSource

Sep 4, 2015

Syria: Don’t Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Good

By Faysal Itani

Foreign Policy published an intriguing article by Aaron David Miller, arguing that the current US Syria policy is the inevitable outcome of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy worldview.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 3, 2015

Europe Grapples with the Migrant Question

By Ashish Kumar Sen

As war and poverty fuel surge in migration, Europe debates immigration, integration, and identity As the world faces its biggest migrant crisis since World War II, governments across Europe are struggling to find a solution to a situation that is as much about integration and identity as it is about immigration. The European Union (EU) […]

Africa European Union

SyriaSource

Sep 3, 2015

Syria Banks Will Wait Out the Conflict

By Rashad al-Kattan

Many observers have dubbed the conflict in Syria (and rightly so) an international one, as regional and global powers compete through direct and proxy actors on Syrian territory. Their different forms of intervention has both shaped and transformed the Syrian revolution, which started with local protests in March 2011 as a rejection to the untenable […]

Economy & Business Syria

Issue Brief

Sep 2, 2015

Seizing local opportunities in Syria

By Bassam Barabandi and Faysal Itani

Despite the many external players involved, the Syrian war is ultimately a local conflict. In “Seizing Local Opportunities in Syria,” authors Faysal Itani of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center and Co-Founder of People Demand Change Bassam Barabandi identify three opportunities on the ground for the United States to develop partnerships with segments of the […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Aug 31, 2015

Iran: The Costs of Diplomatic Single-Tracking

By Frederic C. Hof

Head counting in Congress indicates that President Barack Obama is closing in on veto-proof numbers as he seeks to implement the Iranian nuclear agreement. Indeed, he may well acquire the requisite number of Senate supporters (forty-one) to prevent a resolution of disapproval from even getting a vote in the upper house.

Iran Syria

Experts