Syria

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Hard Truths in Syria

With the impending troop reductions decreed by Trump, Washington must lower its sights in Syria. It should focus on protecting only two interests: preventing ISIS from coming back and stopping Iran from establishing a fortified military presence there that might threaten Israel.

Brett McGurk

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Trump Administration Nov 13, 2019 Snapshot

Why Trump’s Shapeshifting Syria Policy Worked—Until It Didn’t

The Trump administration’s Syria policy resembled a Rorschach inkblot—an ambiguous shape to which observers could ascribe their own preferred meaning. But in October,...

Frances Z. Brown

A convoy of U.S. vehicles in Iraq after withdrawing from northern Syria, October 2019

Terrorism & Counterterrorism Oct 23, 2019 Snapshot

The Coming ISIS Jailbreak

The Strategy That Enabled the Caliphate’s Rise Just Became Viable Again

Aki Peritz

Middle East Oct 16, 2019 Snapshot

ISIS Is Already Rising From the Ashes

Turkey’s Invasion of Syria Will Fuel a Jihadi Resurgence

Brian Katz and Michael Carpenter

kurd Oct 16, 2019 Snapshot

Dashing Kurdish Hopes Will Not Bring Erdogan Peace

What was recently Kurdish territory will likely be divided between Ankara and Damascus, an outcome that marks the end of the dream of Kurdish autonomy, at least for...

Henri J. Barkey

Kurds protesting the Turkish offensive, Erbil, Iraq, October 2019

Trump Administration Oct 9, 2019 Snapshot

Turkey’s Endgame in Syria

Turkey’s strategy is more than an exercise in geopolitics—for Erdogan, it touches on his very political survival.

Gonul Tol

A Turkish military convoy near the Turkish-Syrian border, October 2019

War & Military Strategy November/December 2019 Review Essay

How a Caliphate Ends

Anne Barnard reviews a book by a journalist embedded with Iraqi soldiers during the government's reconquest of Mosul.

Reviewed by Anne Barnard

War & Military Strategy Aug 16, 2019 Snapshot

Syria Changed the Iranian Way of War

To get a sense of the playbook that Tehran might consult in any future conflict with the United States, Washington should pay close attention to what the Iranians have...

Ariane M. Tabatabai

Protesters wear masks of Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad at a protest near the U.S. embassy in Berlin, August 2012

Terrorism & Counterterrorism Jun 6, 2019 Snapshot

Jihadists Head Home

Western ISIS fighters and their children are stuck in camps and prisons in northern Syria and Iraq. Their governments don’t want to take them back—and are resorting to...

Jytte Klausen

Women at an IDP camp in northeastern Syria, April 2019

U.S. Foreign Policy Apr 9, 2019 Snapshot

Saving Northeastern Syria

By using American aid and investment to promote the economic integration of Turkey and northeastern Syria, Washington can foster improved relations between the Turks...

Merve Tahiroglu and Andrew Gabel

SDF fighters near Baghouz, in eastern Syria, March 2019

Trump Administration May/June 2019 Essay

Hard Truths in Syria

With the impending troop reductions decreed by Trump, Washington must lower its sights in Syria. It should focus on protecting only two interests: preventing ISIS from...

Brett McGurk

Civil Society March/April 2019 Essay

The Kurdish Awakening

The United States’ actions in the Middle East have helped promote a new Kurdish nationalism.

Henri J. Barkey

This land is our land: Kurdish peshmerga forces in Makhmur, Iraq, August 2014.

Strategy & Conflict Jan 22, 2019 Snapshot

The Scramble for Northeast Syria

If the United States withdraws from northeast Syria, it will be forced to watch from the sidelines as a race for influence over the region unfolds between Turkey,...

Aaron Stein

Trump Administration Jan 16, 2019 Snapshot

What Syria Stands to Lose

U.S. policy in northeast Syria is working: a modest investment of U.S. tax dollars has allowed a fragile stability to hold in a place that once served as a hotbed of...

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Trump Administration Jan 9, 2019 Snapshot

If Trump Wants to Get Out of Syria, He Should Strike a Deal With Russia

The best way to get out of Syria is to hand responsibility over to Russia.

Ilan Goldenberg and Nicholas A. Heras

U.S. troops patrol near Turkish border in Hasakah, Syria, November 4, 2018.

War & Military Strategy Jan 8, 2019 Snapshot

Withdrawing From Syria Leaves a Vacuum That Iran Will Fill

An American withdrawal from Syria would provide Iran with the operational space to expand its growing network of Shiite foreign fighters, who can be mobilized and...

Colin P. Clarke and Ariane M. Tabatabai

Security Nov 14, 2018 Snapshot

There’s a Right Way to End Syria’s War

Earlier this month, Geir Pedersen, Norway’s ambassador to China and a former permanent representative to the United Nations, was appointed special envoy on the Syria...

Janine di Giovanni

A man stands in a building damaged by what activists said were air strikes from forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo, December 2013

Natural Resources Nov 1, 2018 Snapshot

What’s Driving Israeli Claims to the Golan Heights?

In recent months, Israel has been lobbying the U.S. government to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. The abundant water in the Golan lies at the core of...

Zena Agha

Druze people take part in a rally near Majdal Shams near the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, October 2018

United Nations Sep 20, 2018 Snapshot

How UN Humanitarian Aid Has Propped Up Assad

Why have sanctions been so unsuccessful at stopping Assad’s killing machine? A big part of the blame lies with the UN-led humanitarian effort in Syria.

Annie Sparrow

A Red Crescent aid convoy in Douma, March 2018.

Post-Conflict Reconstruction Aug 31, 2018 Snapshot

The SDF’s Post-American Future

The SDF, surrounded by hostile adversaries, has a real interest in reaching a modus vivendi with the Assad regime.

Aaron Stein

General Chiya (L) of the SDF speaks with U.S. Army Lieutenant General Paul Funk in Syria's Euphrates Valley, July 2018.

Peacekeeping Jul 23, 2018 Snapshot

The Fall of Daraa

"These are the type of people who fight to defend their lands, even when they know they are losing.”

Suha Maayeh and Nicholas A. Heras

A Free Syrian Army fighter in Yadouda, in Syria's Daraa Province, May 2018.

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Syria

Hard Truths in Syria

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Why Trump’s Shapeshifting Syria Policy Worked—Until It Didn’t

The Coming ISIS Jailbreak

ISIS Is Already Rising From the Ashes

Dashing Kurdish Hopes Will Not Bring Erdogan Peace

Turkey’s Endgame in Syria

How a Caliphate Ends

Syria Changed the Iranian Way of War

Jihadists Head Home

Saving Northeastern Syria

Hard Truths in Syria

The Kurdish Awakening

The Scramble for Northeast Syria

What Syria Stands to Lose

If Trump Wants to Get Out of Syria, He Should Strike a Deal With Russia

Withdrawing From Syria Leaves a Vacuum That Iran Will Fill

There’s a Right Way to End Syria’s War

What’s Driving Israeli Claims to the Golan Heights?

How UN Humanitarian Aid Has Propped Up Assad

The SDF’s Post-American Future

The Fall of Daraa

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Hard Truths in Syria

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