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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

New Atlanticist

Apr 4, 2018

Syria: To Leave or Not to Leave?

By Frederic C. Hof

That is the question.  On the “leave” side of the answer are Bashar al-Assad, Ali Khamenei, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump. “Not to leave” is the position of the United States Department of Defense. Who will prevail? Who should? One may stipulate that President Trump’s motives for wanting to put Syria in the rear-view mirror […]

Iran Russia

SyriaSource

Apr 4, 2018

Addressing the War in Syria, Not Managing its Consequences

By Sana Mustafa

The refugee crisis in the Middle East—the mass displacement of millions of people—poses immediate and long-term problems. For the refugees themselves, it is a humanitarian crisis. The sudden and unexpected mass displacement of Syrians put an intense strain on neighboring countries: particularly Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, which together host millions of Syrian refugees. The influx […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 3, 2018

The Second Exodus:Tracing the Footsteps of Palestinian Refugees in Syria

By Hanan Elbadawi

The case of Palestinian Refugees registered in Syria (PRS) is a difficult one. Once considered lucky, compared to Palestinian refugees in neighboring countries, PRS now face secondary displacement due to the Syrian conflict. Many fled to neighboring countries with little protection, making them among the most vulnerable refugee groups. The war in Syria impacted PRS […]

Syria

In the News

Apr 3, 2018

Farkas Quoted in Bloomberg on Trump’s Syria Policy

By Evelyn Farkas

Read the full article here

Syria

Rebuilding Syria

Apr 2, 2018

The Resilience of Agriculture in Syria Amid Conflict

By Savannah Carter

In January 2018, Syria Independent Monitoring published a research report titled “Understanding Market Drivers in Syria” in which it conducted field research into the olive/olive oil and spice/herb market systems in northeastern and northwestern Syria to assess the flow of food commodities—that has been highly impacted by the conflict —in the dynamic and adaptable agricultural markets that […]

Syria

In the News

Mar 30, 2018

Itani Quoted in The National on the U.S. Soldier Killed in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Read the full article here

Syria

In the News

Mar 30, 2018

Hof Quoted in Vox on Removing US Troops From Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here

Syria

In the News

Mar 28, 2018

Itani Quoted in The Washington Post on Syrian Rebel Group

By Faysal Itani

Read the full article here

Syria

SyriaSource

Mar 28, 2018

Leaving

By Frederic C. Hof

When I joined the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center in late 2012, I had one goal: to build a Syria program that could, from outside government, do that which I had failed to do on the inside. I wanted to persuade senior officials that a drifting Syria policy left unchanneled would facilitate human suffering on […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Mar 27, 2018

The Risks the White Helmets in Eastern Ghouta Take to Save Lives

By Maher Al-Hamdan

As of March 22, 2018, the Syrian Civil Defense (or White Helmets) lost ten of its members in the Damascus countryside during Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s recent campaign on Eastern Ghouta. According to Siraj Mahmoud, the official spokesman for the Civil Defense, ten volunteers were killed in Eastern Ghouta, including Mohammed Qasim Masarwa, one of […]

Syria

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