Featured reading

Cooper quoted in The Week on Russia’s loss in Syria

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
Cooper quoted in The Week on Russia’s loss in Syria

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
Cooper quoted in The Week on Russia’s loss in Syria

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
Cooper quoted in The Week on Russia’s loss in Syria

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
Cooper quoted in The Week on Russia’s loss in Syria

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.

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Featured experts

Leadership

Fellow

Qutaiba Idlbi

Resident Senior Fellow, Syria

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economic Sanctions Entrepreneurship

Fellows

Fellow

Michel Duclos

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict Crisis Management

Fellow

Arwa Damon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Ömer Özkizilcik

Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Sinan Hatahet

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economic Sanctions

Fellow

Hind Kabawat

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

Past events

Online Event Thu, December 19, 2024 • 12:30 pm 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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Middle East Programs

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Content

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Cooper quoted in The Week on Russia’s loss in Syria

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Political Reform

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Cooper quoted in ABC News Australia on Russia’s foothold in Syria

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Middle East

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Fontenrose joins Bloomberg Radio to discuss Assad’s fall in Syria

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Political Reform

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Fontenrose quoted in The New York Times on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Political Reform

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Citrinowicz quoted in The Wall Street Journal on Israeli’s aim to protect Golan Heights positions

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy Israel

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Citrinowicz joins Jewish Insider to discuss Assad’s collapse and Iran’s increased uranium enrichment

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Citrinowicz quoted in Barron’s on Israeli bombing of Syrian targets

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Israel

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Citrinowicz quoted in France 24 on Israel’s unplanned aid in overthrowing Assad

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Israel

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Citrinowicz quoted in ABC News Australia on the effect of Assad’s fall on Hezbollah

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Iran

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Citrinowicz quoted in 24 Digital on Israeli targeting of Syrian assets

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Israel
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Experts

Fellow

Alia Brahimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Lesley Chavkin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Fellow

Arwa Damon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Michel Duclos

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Conflict Crisis Management

Fellow

Sinan Hatahet

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economic Sanctions
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Events

Public Event Fri, March 21, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

US-Turkey relations under the new era
Conflict Eastern Europe Economy & Business Energy & Environment