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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

Jan 22, 2014

Syria: Is there a Constructive Role for Iran?

By Frederic C. Hof

The recent furor over the aborted United Nations invitation of Iran to the Geneva 2 conference on Syria, convening today in Montreux, Switzerland, provided a comic opera distraction from a central reality: the role of Iran in the survival of Syria’s Assad regime is absolutely vital.

Syria

MENASource

Jan 22, 2014

Syria Needs a Truce Before Talks About its Future Can Begin

By Frederic C. Hof

Syria’s 23 million people have little to gain from the talks that are scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Wednesday. Until the Assad regime agrees to unimpeded access for UN humanitarian aid workers, there will be no basis for dialogue and compromise.

Syria
REUTERS/Hosam Katan

New Atlanticist

Jan 21, 2014

Syria Talks Could Clarify an Alternative to Assad

By New Atlanticist

The “Geneva II” peace talks on Syria that begin this week under UN auspices have “absolutely zero” chance of achieving their formal goal – the creation of a transition to a new government – according to Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof. But, Hof told reporters in a briefing at the Council, the talks […]

Syria

In the News

Jan 21, 2014

Hof: US Must Stand Firm at Syria Peace Talks

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof writes in the New Republic on the Geneva II peace conference:

Syria
French commandos

NATOSource

Jan 21, 2014

Europe’s Sole Military Force: Giving France Respect Where it is Due

By Gregor Peter Schmitz, Spiegel

In Damascus, Tehran, Tripoli and even Washington, Paris is taken very seriously indeed.

Africa Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jan 21, 2014

Assad Goes into Geneva with the Upper Hand

By Rajan Menon

It would certainly be wonderful if Wednesday’s peace conference in Geneva were to result in some kind of blueprint, however fragile, for winding down a Syrian civil war that is now approaching the three-year mark. The carnage has consumed some 130,000 lives — at least half of them civilians — turned 2.4 million Syrians into […]

Syria

In the News

Jan 21, 2014

Hof Talks Geneva II

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof joins NPR’s Morning Edition to discuss Syrian peace talks in Geneva:

Syria

In the News

Jan 20, 2014

Hof on Obama’s Syria Policy

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof joins BBC News Night to discuss the United States’ failure to stabilize the humanitarian crisis in Syria:

Syria

In the News

Jan 20, 2014

Hof Quoted on Assad’s Path to War

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof is quoted by BuzzFeed on Syria’s Bashar al-Assad:

Syria

In the News

Jan 19, 2014

Hof: Syria Needs a Truce before Talks

By Frederic C. Hof

Frederic C. Hof, senior fellow for the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, writes in the Financial Times on the upcoming Syria peace talks in Geneva:

Syria

Experts