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MENASource

Jul 2, 2015

Washington-Ankara: Same Page for Syria and ISIL?

By Frederic C. Hof

The inability of two NATO allies to get on the same page strategically with respect to Syria has grave consequences for the battle against the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL). It also aggravates bilateral relations between two countries whose cooperation in a troubled region is essential.

Syria Turkey

MENASource

Jul 2, 2015

Ankara Moves to Counter the PYD

By Aaron Stein

On June 25, a number of Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) fighters penetrated deep into the Kurdish-controlled city of Kobani to detonate two vehicle-born improvised explosive devices.

Syria Turkey

MENASource

Jul 1, 2015

Arab-Kurdish Gains in Syria Provide an Opportunity to Defeat ISIS

By Wladimir Van Wilgenburg

An operation launched by a joint coalition of Kurdish and Arab rebels in May 2015 culminated in the capture of roughly 4,000 square kilometers from Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) militants, including the important Tal Abyad crossing on June 15, depriving ISIS of one of the logistics and supply routes from Raqqa from Turkey.

Syria Turkey

In the News

Jul 1, 2015

Ricciardone on Turkey’s ISIS Hesitations

By Francis Ricciardone

McClatchy quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis J. Ricciardone on why the United States is not tougher on Turkey’s hesitance to fight ISIS:

Turkey

MENASource

Jun 29, 2015

Are Syria’s Kurds America’s New Best Friend?

By Michael Stephens and Aaron Stein

The recent capture of the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad held by the fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), by Syrian Kurdish forces (known as the YPG) is a major development in the course of the war in Syria. The result is that Kurdish forces are now poised to […]

Syria Turkey

MENASource

Jun 22, 2015

The Implications of a Kurdish Victory Over ISIS in Tal Abyad

By Aaron Stein

Last week, Kurdish forces fighting for the Syria-based Democratic Union Party (PYD) wrested control of the border town of Tel Abyad from the Islamic State. The seizure of the town cut off a key supply line to the Islamic State’s de-facto capital in Raqqa and allowed for the unification of two Kurdish controlled cantons, Kobane […]

Syria Turkey

In the News

Jun 22, 2015

Cohen: Turkey Threatens the Major Prospects for Eastern Mediterranean Gas Supply

By Ariel Cohen

Global Energy Center Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen writes for Security Europe on Turkey’s reluctance to participate in an Eastern Mediterranean gas project designed to alleviate the reliance on Russian supplies:

Turkey

In the News

Jun 17, 2015

Ricciardone on the Turkish Elections

By Francis Ricciardone

Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone joins BBC World News to discuss next steps following the parliamentary elections:

Turkey

MENASource

Jun 15, 2015

Turkish Coalition Politics: Prospects for the Kurdish Peace Process

By Aaron Stein

Turkey still needs a “solution” to its “Kurdish” (aka democracy) problem—and the AKP and HDP may need each other more than ever. Turkey’s fourth largest political party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), surprised many observers of Turkish politics with its strong showing in the recent general election.

Turkey

In the News

Jun 11, 2015

Stein on the Turkish Elections

By Aaron Stein

The Wall Street Journal quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the uncertainty of Turkey’s political future in the wake of the parliamentary elections:

Turkey

Experts