I'm proud & honored to be managing the #Syria Strategy Project alongside Qutaiba Idlbi قتيبة ادلبي & Marie Forestier -- we've gathered ~80 of the world's most renowned experts to piece together a realistic, meaningful & multilateral policy.

See more info here:

mei.edu/syria-strategy…

36hrs ago, MEI Syria Program, The Atlantic Council Middle East Initiatives, European Institute of Peace (EIP) & Madaniya launched the #Syria Strategy Project -- a major new international initiative.

You can re-watch the whole launch event here -- featuring an array of high-level speakers & panels:

youtube.com/watch?v=sA1K14…

يعمل مشروع إستراتيجية #سوريا مع صانعي السياسات لتطوير استراتيجية شاملة لصياغة مسار مستدام لحل الأزمة السورية.

بالعربية:

youtube.com/watch?v=ms-dkW…

We've secured the participation 80+ of the world's most renowned #Syria experts to work over the next 12 months to develop a holistic & realistic approach to resolving #Syria 's crisis.

And we've secured 25+ governments & Syrian stakeholder entities to consult on it throughout.

TODAY at 1pm ET, we launch the #Syria Strategy Project -- a joint & major initiative between MEI Syria Program, The Atlantic Council Middle East Initiatives, European Institute of Peace (EIP) & Madaniya.

We'll have keynote remarks & x3 panels & you can attend in-person or online -- so make sure to RSVP here:

atlanticcouncil.org/event/the-syri…

With such a heavy focus on the situations in Gaza and Ukraine, other foreign policy priorities have taken a back seat. Charles Lister joins @mpolymer to outline the need for a coherent strategy to deal with Syria, and why the country is primed to explode.ow.ly/moqy50QQrSE

On Tuesday, 16.5 million #Syria -made #captagon pills were seized in #Libya , en route to #Sudan .

That's one of the biggest seizures anywhere in a long while -- and underlines the deep #Assad - #Haftar ties & a the Syrian regime's attempt to exploit conflict in #Sudan .

Interested in #Syria ?

Make sure to RSVP for this March 18 conference, marking the launch of The #Syria Strategy Project -- a major new international initiative btw MEI Syria Program, The Atlantic Council Middle East Initiatives & European Institute of Peace (EIP).

In 10 days, MEI Syria Program will launch a major new project, in collaboration with Atlantic Council & European Institute of Peace (EIP).

The #Syria Strategy Project has gathered 80+ experts & 25+ Syrian stakeholders & governments to deliberate on a meaningful & realistic international approach to #Syria .

Yes -- as I wrote for Foreign Policy a week ago.

#ISIS 's recovery in #Assad -held areas is significant -- in terms of less visible metrics (extortion, intimidation, shadow influence) & newly also in terms of attack intensity & rural territorial control.

foreignpolicy.com/2024/01/24/ame…

#Jordan has killed 20 civilians -- most women & children -- in a string of airstrikes in southern #Syria , aimed at stemming the [ #Assad -linked] drug trade.

Local anger is rising & some in #Suwayda want to take charge.

محمد حسان Mohammad Hassan, for MEI Syria Program:

mei.edu/publications/g…

It's now been 5 days since 3 U.S. soldiers were killed by an #Iran -sponsored attack on the #Jordan - #Syria border.

So far, no U.S. response -- the weather is sunny & clear.

#Israel targeted an #IRGC operative in #Damascus this morning -- the 5th such strike in 7 weeks.

On Tuesday, an Israel Defense Forces strike hit an aid distribution point in #KhanYounis ; MEI Syria Program advisory committee member Dr. Dr. Zaher Sahloul was there.

12+ children were injured, some with shrapnel head injuries so severe their brains were largely outside of their skulls.

nytimes.com/live/2024/01/1…

#Jordan conducted airstrikes in southern #Syria overnight, flattening a residential building in the town of Arman in #Suwayda .

10 people were killed, including 5 women & these 2 young girls -- locals have called it a 'massacre.' It took 10hrs to get bodies out of the rubble.

This panel is just getting started — featuring a stellar set of speakers on the humanitarian crisis & conditions associated with the detainee crisis in NE #Syria .

Tune in here: youtube.com/live/y5FqHerZ7…

Anna Borshchevskaya Matthew Levitt Andrew J. Tabler Missy Ryan The Washington Post ICRC Human Rights Watch Letta Tayler Courtney Kube State Dept CT Bureau Michael R. Gordon And from 1400-1515 ET:

- 'Resolving the Detainee Crisis: Assessing Progress & Paths Ahead'

Featuring Shiraz Maher of ICSR, Mona Yacoubian of U.S. Institute of Peace & myself, moderated by Charlie Savage of the The New York Times.

RSVP here, for in-person or live on Zoom:

mei.edu/events/resolvi…

Anna Borshchevskaya Matthew Levitt Andrew J. Tabler Missy Ryan The Washington Post ICRC Human Rights Watch Letta Tayler Courtney Kube From 1300-1345:

- Keynote Remarks & Discussion:

Featuring State Dept CT Bureau Coordinator & U.S. Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat #ISIS , Chris Landberg, moderated by Michael R. Gordon.

RSVP here -- for in person or live on Zoom:

mei.edu/events/resolvi…

Anna Borshchevskaya Matthew Levitt Andrew J. Tabler Missy Ryan The Washington Post From 1045-1215 ET:

- The Humanitarian Crisis in Northeast #Syria

Featuring ICRC #Syria Coordinator Marianne Gasser, Anne Chabord from the UN Rapporteur for CT & Human Rights, Human Rights Watch's Letta Tayler & moderated by Courtney Kube.

RSVP here, in person or Zoom:

mei.edu/events/resolvi…

From 0915-1030 ET:

- 'War in #Gaza : Assessing Potential Impacts in Northeastern #Syria & #Iraq '

Featuring Anna Borshchevskaya, Matthew Levitt & Andrew J. Tabler, moderated by Missy Ryan of the The Washington Post.

RSVP here -- in person or live via Zoom:

mei.edu/events/resolvi…

Tomorrow, Middle East Institute will host a public conference:

- 'Resolving the Detainee Crisis in NE #Syria .'

Today, there are ~10,000 #ISIS fighters & ~50,000 associated women & children (from ~55 countries) in various forms of detention.

RSVP here:

mei.edu/events/resolvi…