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The Regime’s Strategy in Southern Damascus: Securing its Southern Front

New Atlanticist
Dec 17, 2024

Dispatch from Damascus: Celebrations and concerns as a new Syria takes shape

By
Ömer Özkizilcik

Syrians in Damascus are celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, but that joy is mixed with concern for how the country’s new leaders will govern.

Conflict
Crisis Management

The Regime’s Strategy in Southern Damascus: Securing its Southern Front

MENASource
Jun 20, 2025

On World Refugee Day, complexities persist for Syrian returnees

By
Sinan Hatahet

While Syria’s political shift brings new hope, it also highlights the complex realities that still define the Syrian landscape.

Middle East
Migration

The Regime’s Strategy in Southern Damascus: Securing its Southern Front

MENASource
Jun 10, 2025

Why DDR programs are the missing link to Syrian stability

By
Muhsen al-Mustafa

With the end of Western sanctions, Syria faces a rare opportunity to address the imbalances of the post-conflict period.

Middle East
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

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SyriaSource

May 17, 2018

The Regime’s Strategy in Southern Damascus: Securing its Southern Front

By Hasan Arfeh

The southern Damascus markets are devoid of essential food items; much like other areas currently under siege by Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which led to mass displacement of the population. The regime is now targeting Yarmouk Camp in southern Damascus and the surrounding areas; it launched a military campaign on April 19 and continues to impose […]

Syria

SyriaSource

May 16, 2018

The Ongoing Medical Crisis in Raqqa

By Maher Al-Hamdan

Amran lives in Raqqa. He travels more than 30 miles twice a month to get his diabetes medication from a pharmacy in Ain Issa, north of the city of Raqqa. He also travels west to the city of Tabqa another 25 miles to get treatment for his family. Imran is forced to travel each time […]

Syria

SyriaSource

May 14, 2018

Interview with Nasr Hariri on Iran-Israel and the Developing US-Syria Policy

By Ghaith al-Ahmad

After US-missile strikes in Syria on April 13, 2018, that targeted manufacturing components for the regime’s chemical weapons arsenal, the initial outcome of the attack was unclear. The response of the Syrian regime, Iran, and Russia was immediate condemning the attacks. A month later, and most analysts counter that the impact was limited, and a […]

Syria

SyriaSource

May 14, 2018

The Black Prison of Afrin

By Khalifa al-Khuder

Sixty-eight prisoners are crammed into an overcrowded communal cell somewhere in the Afrin valley. Where they sit depends on how many days they have been imprisoned. As prisoners spend more time in the cell, they gradually move further from the door. New detainees sit and sleep closest to the dormitory’s entrance, standing up as the […]

Syria

In the News

May 10, 2018

Slavin Quoted in The Independent on the Iran-Israel Clash in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

Read the full article here

Iran Israel

SyriaSource

May 4, 2018

Iran-Israel Proxy War Heats Up in Syria

By Mona Alami

On the night of April 29, air strikes targeting Syrian military positions in Hama and Aleppo reportedly hit two Iran-linked bases resulting in a giant explosion measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale. According to a former head of military intelligence, this indicates the target may have been a weapons depot that was highly explosive, stating […]

Syria
SyriaWhiteHelmetsFeature

New Atlanticist

May 4, 2018

Why It’s A Bad Idea To Abandon The White Helmets In Syria

By Nabeel A. Khoury

Barack Obama had an opinion in 2011 on who should win the contest between the Syrian opposition and Bashar al-Assad’s regime when he said Assad should “step aside.” He did not, however, wish to back up that opinion with troops on the ground or significant assistance to the opposition. As a result, Russia and Iran […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2018

Can Russia Serve As An Honest Broker Between Israel And Iran?

By Stephen Blank

Victory in war often brings with it unforeseen challenges and obligations.  Russia is now learning that to sustain its victory in Syria’s civil war it must play a role as an arbiter or honest broker between Iran and Israel lest their rivalry explodes into large-scale combat, engulfs the entire region, and undermines Russia’s newly-acquired position […]

Iran Israel

SyriaSource

May 1, 2018

Factbox: The Evolving US-Syria Policy

By Yousuf Eltagouri

During a state visit to the United States, US policy in Syria was a key talking point for French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump. The meetings took place just ten days after the US, France, and the United Kingdom carried out joint missile strikes in Syria as a response to suspected chemical […]

Syria

SyriaSource

May 1, 2018

Increased Tensions between Russia and Israel in Syria

By Patrick Hilsman

The latest Israeli airstrike on the T4 airbase and the possibility of Russia providing Damascus with an S-300 missile system have strained relations between Moscow and Tel Aviv. But these developments are unlikely to break down this strategic partnership or spark further escalation. Tensions are increasing between Russia and Israel over Syria, casting a shadow on a strategic partnership […]

Syria
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Ibrahim Al-Assil

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Arabic Conflict

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Amany Qaddour 

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Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Diana Rayes 

Nonresident Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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Civil Society Extremism
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