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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

Jul 31, 2015

Ricciardone and Hof on Syria Safe Zone

By Francis Ricciardone and Frederic C. Hof

Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone and Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof join Voice of America’s International Edition to discuss the developing safe zone in Syria and Turkey’s involvement in the fight against ISIS:

Syria Turkey

In the News

Jul 30, 2015

Hof on Turkey’s ‘Safe Zone’

By Fred Hof

Al Arabiya quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on how Turkey’s ‘safe zone’ is another chapter in Syria’s disintegration:

Syria Turkey
NATO meeting to discuss terrorists attacks in Turkey, July 28, 2015

NATOSource

Jul 29, 2015

Possible Division in NATO Over Turkey’s Attacks Against Kurds

By Julian Barnes, Joe Parkinson, and Ayla Albayrak, Wall Street Journal

As the NATO ambassadors met in Brussels, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan effectively declared the three-year-old peace process with the PKK over. His air force bombed militants affiliated with the group in the country’s southeastern Kurdish heartland.

Iraq NATO

In the News

Jul 29, 2015

Hof on Obama’s Focus on Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Christian Science Monitor quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on President Obama’s focus on achieving progress in Syria before the end of his term:

Syria

In the News

Jul 29, 2015

Ricciardone on Politics of Turkey’s Anti-ISIS and Anti-Kurdish War

By Francis Ricciardone

The Wall Street Journal quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis J. Ricciardone on the politics behind Turkey’s new two-front war against Kurdish militants and ISIS:

Syria Turkey

In the News

Jul 29, 2015

Slavin: Turkey Grants Access for US Warplanes as Syrian War Escalates

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on the US alliance with Turkey to combat ISIS in Syria: 

Syria Turkey

In the News

Jul 29, 2015

Stein on Turkey’s War Against ISIS and the Kurds

By Aaron Stein

Bloomberg quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on how Turkey’s two front war against both the Kurds and ISIS may hurt the US focus on ISIS:

Syria Turkey

Transcript

Jul 28, 2015

Press Call on US-Turkey Cooperation in Syria

By Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

{soundcloud}https://soundcloud.com/atlanticcouncil/press-call-on-us-turkey-cooperation-in-syria {/soundcloud} Atlantic CouncilPress Call – US-Turkey Cooperation in Syria Speakers: Frank Ricciardone, Vice President and Director, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Atlantic Council Frederic C. Hof, Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Atlantic Council Moderator: Samia Yakub, Associate Director, Communications, Atlantic Council Time: 9:00 a.m. EDT Date: Tuesday, July […]

Syria Turkey

In the News

Jul 28, 2015

Ricciardone on Turkey’s Focus on Crushing Kurdish Separatists

By Francis J. Ricciardone

The New York Times quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis J. Ricciardone on how Turkey’s focus on crushing Kurdish separatists complicates the fight against ISIS:

Syria Turkey

MENASource

Jul 28, 2015

The US-Turkey Alliance Against Whom?

By MENASource

The recent deal between Turkey and the United States that allows US air power to use the Incirlik airbase in exchange for maintaining a safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border represents Turkey’s boldest step yet in the war on the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL).

Syria Turkey

Experts