Featured reading

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.

Featured experts

Leadership

Fellows

Past events

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.

Sign up for all the latest updates!

Sign up for the MENASource newsletter, highlighting pieces that follow democratic transitions and economic changes throughout the region.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


Content

In the News

Feb 28, 2018

Hellyer in The National: Ghouta Demonstrates the Implementation of International Law Depends Greatly on the Willingness of the Most Powerful to Instigate It

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here

Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 27, 2018

Dreaming of a Syria Free of Tyranny

By Ghaith al-Ahmad

The past few weeks have produced a number of new developments in international and regional dynamics in the Syrian conflict. Opposition forces downed a Russian bomber in Idlib countryside; the United States conducted air strikes against forces loyal to the Syrian regime east of the Euphrates River; Kurdish forces took out a Turkish helicopter near […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 27, 2018

Eastern Ghouta: Voices from a Bombed-Out City

By Rana Riziq

Eastern Ghouta is a suburb of Damascus. Before the war, it was an expanding part of the commuter belt where families would settle and travel the short 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into central Damascus city for work. The original inhabitants from the area would sell their produce from their small farms. In the years since […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 26, 2018

Eastern Ghouta: Will Resolution 2401 Stop the Slaughter?

By Frederic C. Hof

The unanimous vote in the UN Security Council for a well-meaning resolution demanding “a durable humanitarian pause for at least thirty consecutive days throughout Syria” may turn out, for the besieged 400,000 souls in Eastern Ghouta, to be the emptiest of gestures. It lacks an enforcement mechanism and contains a loophole all-but-inviting ongoing mass homicide. […]

Syria

In the News

Feb 26, 2018

Hof Joins WBUR to Discuss Syria’s Long-Running War

By Frederic C. Hof

Listen to the full discussion here

Syria

In the News

Feb 26, 2018

Farkas in The Atlantic: Russia Is Abetting Mass Murder in Syria

By Evelyn Farkas

Read the full article here

Russia Syria

In the News

Feb 26, 2018

Farkas in The Atlantic: Russia Is Abetting Mass Murder in Syria

By Evelyn Farkas

Read the full article here

Russia Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 26, 2018

Assad Determined to Destroy What’s Left of Syria: The Continued Bombardment of Eastern Ghouta

By Natasha Hall

Four-year old Elias sits on the ground in a basement about 200 square meters with nearly 300 other people. He is playing with keys. He pretends that they are rockets falling and sprays imaginary shrapnel everywhere. His father tells me that he is a child and “his war games are already inspired by his reality.” […]

Syria

In the News

Feb 25, 2018

Hof Joins CBS to Discuss the Latest Round of Violence in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Hof joins CBS’ Face the Nation to discuss the new round of violence in the Eastern region of Syria this past week. Watch the full discussion here

Syria

In the News

Feb 21, 2018

Stein Quoted in Rudaw on Damascus’ Deployment

By Aaron Stein

Read the full article here

Syria

Experts