Recent analysis

French Foreign Minister: Anti-ISIL Coalition Must Also Save 300,000 Lives In Aleppo

MENASource
Dec 8, 2025

States shouldn’t waste the chance to establish a Syria Victims Fund

By
Kate Springs, Celeste Kmiotek

A centralized fund would better support victims of international law violations in Syria, who face unique challenges.

Democratic Transitions
International Norms

French Foreign Minister: Anti-ISIL Coalition Must Also Save 300,000 Lives In Aleppo

MENASource
Dec 7, 2025

One year after Assad’s fall, here’s what’s needed to advance justice for Syrians

By
Elise Baker and Ahmad Helmi

The second year of a post-Assad Syria requires structural reform, victim-centered leadership, and international reinforcement.

Democratic Transitions
International Norms

French Foreign Minister: Anti-ISIL Coalition Must Also Save 300,000 Lives In Aleppo

MENASource
Dec 7, 2025

Syria’s civil society must take center stage in reconstruction

By
Tara Kangarlou and Merissa Khurma

One year since Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Syria stands to have the most potential to showcase how local ownership can accelerate reconstruction.

Civil Society
Middle East

Explore our Syria work

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.


Group of world leaders sitting around table set up.

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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Featured experts

Fellow


Ibrahim Al-Assil


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Conflict

Fellow


Sinan Hatahet


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Economic Sanctions

Fellow


Ömer Özkizilcik


Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
English

Fellow


Arwa Damon


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Civil Society

Fellow


Diana Rayes 


Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Civil Society

Fellow


Amany Qaddour 


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Civil Society

Fellow


Nadia Farra


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Cybersecurity
Defense Technologies

Expert


Gregory Waters


Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Democratic Transitions
Middle East

Fellow


Marie Forestier 


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
French

Fellow


Samir Altaqi


Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic
Middle East

Past events

Online Event
Thu, December 19, 2024 • 7:30 am ET

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

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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.

EXPLORE THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS

Content

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Sept. 27, 2012

NATOSource

Nov 4, 2014

French Foreign Minister: Anti-ISIL Coalition Must Also Save 300,000 Lives In Aleppo

By Laurent Fabius, Washington Post

Syria’s second-largest city and part of humanity’s ancient heritage, Aleppo is the martyred center of the resistance to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,

France
Iraq

MENASource

Nov 4, 2014

What Went Wrong in Idlib?

By Faysal Itani

Last week, Syria’s mainstream opposition suffered a major defeat in its heartland of Idlib province, northern Syria. The al-Qaeda-aligned Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) captured several key towns from the US-backed Syrian Revolutionaries Front and Harakat al Hazm, with some fighters defecting to JAN.

Syria

MENASource

Nov 3, 2014

What Would the Turkish Buffer Zone Mean for Syria’s Displaced?

By Matthew Hall, a Q&A with Elizabeth Ferris

In September, the radical jihadist group ISIS launched a major offensive in northeastern Syria, overrunning scores of Kurdish villages along the warpath to Kobani, a strategic town on the Turkish border.

Syria
Turkey

In the News

Oct 30, 2014

Hof: The US Plan in Syria Is a “Tough Sell”

By Frederic C. Hof

The Los Angeles Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on the US strategy for combating the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham:

Syria

In the News

Oct 30, 2014

Hof on the US “Goldilocks” Approach in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof joins NPR Morning Edition to discuss US policy in Syria:

Syria

MENASource

Oct 29, 2014

ISIS Control Over Eastern Syria More Fragile Than You Might Think

By Mona Alami

Syria observers have balked at the rapid growth of capabilities and territory acquired by the Islamic State in Iraq al-Sham (ISIS, ISIL, or Islamic State) as it confronts global powers on many fronts. But ISIS’s successes in eastern Syria cannot be explained from a military and ideological standpoint alone.

Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2014

Ricciardone on the US-Turkey Relationship

By Francis Ricciardone

The Washington Post quotes VP and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone on how the crisis in Syria has affected the US-Turkish relationship:

Syria
Turkey

In the News

Oct 28, 2014

Hof on the US “Analyst-in-Chief”

By Frederic C. Hof

Reuters quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on the current state of US policy toward Syria:

Syria

MENASource

Oct 28, 2014

General Allen on Building a Syrian Force

By Frederic C. Hof

Special Presidential Envoy General John Allen did his best in an Asharq Al-Awsat interview to square the circle of an unsustainable Syria policy in the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS, ISIL, or the Islamic State).

Syria

In the News

Oct 27, 2014

Hof on Obama’s “Goldilocks” Approach on ISIS and Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on President Obama’s strategy regarding the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham as well as the ongoing crisis in Syria:

Syria
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Experts

Fellow

Samir Altaqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Middle East

Fellow

Colin Brooks

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Iran Middle East

Fellow

Anthony J. Ruggiero

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

Arms Control Defense Policy

Fellow

Amany Qaddour 

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Diana Rayes 

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe
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