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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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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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MENASource

Oct 21, 2014

Why Zakaria’s Strategy in Syria is Wrong

By Faysal Itani and Michael Weiss

Fareed Zakaria and Leslie Gelb both have made what they think are bold and unfashionable proposals for U.S. policy in Syria without bothering to realize that their prescriptions have become the new conventional wisdom.

Syria

In the News

Oct 20, 2014

Hof on Political Opposition in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Foreign Policy quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on the effectiveness of the Syrian moderate opposition: 

Syria

In the News

Oct 20, 2014

Itani: Doubling Down on Disaster in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani cowrites for Politico on the different policy prescriptions outlined by political pundits such as CNN’s Fareed Zakaria: 

Iraq Syria

MENASource

Oct 16, 2014

Dealing With Syria’s Fractious Opposition

By Frederic C. Hof

Reports out of Istanbul detail yet another episode of Syrian opposition disunity: this time over the selection of a prime minister to head an Interim Government long-since established by the Syrian National Coalition.

Syria

In the News

Oct 16, 2014

Itani on the Fight against ISIS

By Faysal Itani

Syria Deeply quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the effect that the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham has had on moderate rebels in Syria: 

Syria

MENASource

Oct 15, 2014

Syria: A Change of Administration Policy?

By Frederic C. Hof

In his remarks to Chiefs of Defense at Andrews Joint Base on October 14, President Barack Obama may have hinted at a significant Syria-related policy change in the fight against ISIS.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2014

The US Fight Against ISIS: An Exercise in Futility?

By James Rupert

Fred Hof: US Policy Needs a Ground Game, and Here Are Two Ways to Build It The US military has escalated air strikes against the Islamist militant ISIS fighters who have been closing in on the Syrian town of Kobani and the nearby Turkish border, in large part because the Syrian civil war is now […]

Iraq Syria

In the News

Oct 11, 2014

Slavin on Iraq, Syria, Ebola

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Voice of America’s Issues in the News to discuss ongoing developments in Syria, Iraq, and Hong Kong, as well as the threat of the Ebola virus: 

Iraq Syria
NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, Sept. 2, 2014

NATOSource

Oct 10, 2014

NATO Deputy Secretary General Warns that Crisis in Eastern Ukraine Could Deteriorate Soon

By Deutsche Welle

Excerpts from NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow’s interview with Deutsche Welle.

NATO Russia

In the News

Oct 10, 2014

Hof on the Battle for Kobani

By Frederic C. Hof

The Wall Street Journal quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on Turkey’s reluctance to intervene in the predominantly Kurdish Syrian city of Kobani: 

Syria Turkey

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