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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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Content

In the News

Apr 16, 2018

Ullman in UPI: 30 Seconds Over Damascus

By Harlan Ullman

Read the full article here

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 16, 2018

Syria: Stop the Bleeding, Build a Strategy

By Frederic C. Hof

Two unsurprising reactions followed in the immediate wake of the recent air attacks on Syrian chemical warfare facilities: Western commentators praised the raids while lamenting the absence of a Trump administration “Syria strategy;” and Bashar al-Assad defiantly declared victory while resuming aerial assaults (albeit non-chemical) on rebel-held residential neighborhoods. One might employ a medical analogy […]

Syria

In the News

Apr 15, 2018

El-Gamal Joins NPR to Discuss Missile Strikes in Syria

By Jasmine El-Gamal

Listen to the full discussion here

Syria

In the News

Apr 15, 2018

Haring Joins Obozrevatel to Discuss U.S.-Russia Conflict and Syria

By Melinda Haring

Watch the full discussion here

Syria

In the News

Apr 15, 2018

Slavin in AXIOS: With Iran Deal on the Line, France, Britain Win Trump’s Favor in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

Read the full article here.

Iran Syria

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2018

Strikes Will Not Change Assad’s Calculus

By Ashish Kumar Sen

There is no evidence that US President Donald J. Trump has any intention of changing Bashar al-Assad’s calculus in Syria, according to H.A. Hellyer, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. US, British, and French forces conducted airstrikes on chemical weapons facilities in Syria on April 14. […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2018

Syria: Mission Accomplished?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The morning after US, French, and British jets targeted chemical weapons facilities in Syria, US President Donald J. Trump took to Twitter to declare “Mission Accomplished.” That declaration—the two words that former US President George W. Bush came to regret—has left many scratching their heads. “I found the comment itself puzzling because I don’t know […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2018

World Reaction to Strikes on Syria

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States, the United Kingdom, and France on April 13 launched strikes on Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack which they blamed on Bashar al-Assad’s regime. While US Defense Secretary James Mattis described the strikes as a “one-time” shot, the Western allies warned more strikes could come in the event of […]

France Germany

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2018

The United States, Britain, and France Launch Strikes on Syria

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States and its European allies have launched strikes against Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack blamed on Bashar al-Assad’s regime. US President Donald J. Trump announced the strikes on April 13. In remarks at the White House, Trump said he had “ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2018

Follow-Up Will Be Key in the Wake of Strikes on Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

The attacks on Syrian targets are not aimed at ending the regime of Bashar al-Assad, even though the United States called on that regime and its leader to step aside nearly seven years ago.  For this murderous crime family and entourage to be brought down, a much more sustained military campaign—one involving a robust ground […]

Syria

Experts