Syria

Featured reading

New Atlanticist Dec 8, 2024

Experts react: Rebels have toppled the Assad regime. What’s next for Syria, the Middle East, and the world?

By Atlantic Council experts

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has been ousted as opposition forces quickly took the Syrian capital. Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the developments.

Conflict Corruption

Fast Thinking Dec 8, 2024

Assad has fallen. Now what?

By Atlantic Council

The power shift in Syria will reverberate across the Middle East and the world. Our experts explain what’s next.

Conflict Iran

New Atlanticist Dec 9, 2024

Dispatch from Doha: Assad’s fall, Iran’s weakness, and the impact of unintended consequences

By Jonathan Panikoff

In just six months, Iran has slid from a position of strength to perhaps the weakest it has been since 1979.

Conflict Iran

MENASource Dec 10, 2024

Where Syria goes next after the fall of Assad

By Frederic C. Hof

With the Assad family agone, Syria, at long last, has a chance to achieve the kind of political transition envisioned by the 2012 Geneva Final Communique and UNSCR 2254.

Conflict Middle East

New Atlanticist Dec 10, 2024

A blueprint for bringing about a new Syria

By Kirsten Fontenrose

For a reconstruction strategy in Syria to be effective, all parties must adopt a unified approach that is clear-eyed about the country’s new leaders.

Crisis Management International Organizations

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.

LEARN MORE

Featured experts

Leadership

Fellow

Qutaiba Idlbi

Resident Senior Fellow, Syria

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Past events

Public Event Mon, March 18, 2024 • 1:00 pm ET

The Syria Strategy Project: A public launch

Civil Society Conflict Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights

Online Event Mon, February 12, 2024 • 12:00 pm ET

One year on: Assessing the February 6th earthquake response in Syria

Civil Society Economy & Business Human Rights International Organizations

Online Event Fri, May 31, 2024 • 9:30 am ET

Serving communities with disability in conflict contexts

Civil Society Conflict Crisis Management Human Rights

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

By Atlantic Council

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Mar 18, 2025

Landmark SDF-Damascus deal presents opportunity, and uncertainty, for Turkey

By Ömer Özkizilcik

Despite positive signals, critical ambiguities remain in agreement between Syrian President Ahmed Shara and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi.

English Middle East

In the News

Mar 11, 2025

Kabawat mentioned in Enab Baladi on the formation of a preparatory committee for National Dialogue Conference in Syria

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Political Reform

In the News

Mar 11, 2025

Kabawat mentioned in Enab Baladi on the National Dialogue Conference in Syria

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Political Reform

MENASource

Mar 10, 2025

Syria’s women face a new chapter. Here’s how to amplify their voices.

By Diana Rayes , Hind Kabawat

It is critical for women to be involved in transitional justice and constitutional reform processes in Syria.

Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Syria

TURKEYSource

Mar 3, 2025

The impact of the PKK leader’s call to disarm will depend on how regional power balances unfold

By Evren Balta

Whether this is truly the beginning of a historic resolution on the Kurdish question will depend on how regional alliances and power balances unfold.

Conflict Middle East

Experts

Fellow

Amany Qaddour

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Staff

Elise Baker

Senior Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Extremism

Fellow

Nicholas Blanford

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Alia Brahimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Share

Featured reading

Experts react: Rebels have toppled the Assad regime. What’s next for Syria, the Middle East, and the world?

Assad has fallen. Now what?

Dispatch from Doha: Assad’s fall, Iran’s weakness, and the impact of unintended consequences

Where Syria goes next after the fall of Assad

A blueprint for bringing about a new Syria

Explore our Syria work

Syria Project

Syria Strategy Project

Featured experts

Leadership

Fellows

Past events

The Syria Strategy Project: A public launch

One year on: Assessing the February 6th earthquake response in Syria

Serving communities with disability in conflict contexts

Learn more about the Middle East Programs

Content

Kabawat mentioned in Pime Asia News on her role in rebuilding Syria

Kabawat mentioned in The Orthodox Times on her meeting with the Patriarch of Antioch

Kabawat quoted in Barron’s on Syria’s national dialogue conference

Kabawat quoted in The Economist on Syria’s future

Idlbi quoted in Al Jazeera on Israeli bombings of southern Syria

Landmark SDF-Damascus deal presents opportunity, and uncertainty, for Turkey

Kabawat mentioned in Enab Baladi on the formation of a preparatory committee for National Dialogue Conference in Syria

Kabawat mentioned in Enab Baladi on the National Dialogue Conference in Syria

Syria’s women face a new chapter. Here’s how to amplify their voices.

The impact of the PKK leader’s call to disarm will depend on how regional power balances unfold

Experts

Oops...

It looks like we're having a technical issue.