Turkey and HTS: A New Era of Extremism in Syria?
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2023, Syria is now controlled by an alliance of opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). While there has...
Kurdistan Workers' Party
Trump can’t leave Syria to others
After the fall of Bashar Assad‘s regime in Syria, the incoming Trump administration faces a complex set of challenges. Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to reduce U.S....
Op-eds
Turkey’s Overreach in Syria: Erdogan Is ‘Playing with Fire’
In a recent Foreign Policy article, Steven Cook and I highlighted how Turkey may be overplaying its hand in Syria. With events evolving rapidly, it seems that Turkish President Recep...
Op-eds
Syria Is At A Crossroads. What’s At Stake Now?
Can the new government stabilize the country? Additionally, can Washington make sure it doesn’t miss an opportunity to leverage a decade of work with the Kurds and other partners?
Op-eds
‘Slip of the Tongue’: Turkey Denies Ceasefire Deal with Kurds, as Erdogan Teases Expansionism
Turkey Denies Ceasefire With U.S.-Backed Syrian Forces: Turkey’s Defense Ministry denied on December 19 that it had agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal with the Kurdish-led...
Flash Briefs
Who will form the core of Jolani’s unified army?
Ahmad al Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), commonly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al Jolani, has unveiled a vision for post-Assad Syria. With HTS assuming control in the aftermath...
Op-eds
US military strikes Islamic State camps and personnel in central Syria
On December 16, the US military launched a second round of strikes against Islamic State personnel and infrastructure in Syria since the fall of the regime of Bashir al Assad on December 8. US operations...
Op-eds
Expect Turkey To Be the Decisive Foreign Player in Post-Assad Syria
The ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other rebel groups have created an opening for Turkey to assert itself as the primary external...
Policy Briefs
‘Unfriendly Takeover’: Turkey Offers to Train New Syrian Army While Maintaining Threat Against Kurds
Turkey’s ‘Unfriendly Takeover’ in Syria: Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on December 15 that Turkey is willing to provide military training for Syria’s army if...
Flash Briefs
Turkey moves to isolate the Kurds in Syria, and prepares a way for new attacks
The main group in Ankara's cross-hairs is the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, which was formed in 2015 with US backing.
Op-eds
Assad’s Enemies Are Not Our Friends
The United States shouldn’t make allies out of terrorists.
Op-eds
US launches massive strikes on Islamic State as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham deposes Assad regime
The US Military launched “dozens” of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in central Syria on December 8, the day that President Bashir al-Assad’s regime was overthrown by the terrorist organization...
Op-eds
America Must Stand with Syria’s Kurds
Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan is playing with and stoking fires in Syria. Following the major military offensive mounted by the Salafi-jihadist forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in...
Op-eds
Are Kurds under threat amid civil war resurgence in Syria?
Many wheels are in motion in Syria, which could leave Kurds and other minorities exposed.
Op-eds
‘Humanitarian Catastrophe’: Turkish Strikes Leave 1 Million in Northeast Syria Without Electricity, Water
Kurdish-Held Northeast Syria Faces Electricity, Water Crisis: Turkish strikes in northeast Syria have left more than 1 million people in northeast Syria without access to electricity...
Flash Briefs
‘An Effective Solution’: Turkey Pushes for Arms Embargo Against Israel
Turkey Calls for Halting Weapons Shipments to Israel: Turkey submitted a letter — cosigned by 52 countries, among them Russia, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia — to the United Nations calling for...
Flash Briefs
Israel SitRep: October 25, 2024
Today’s Issue: | IDF Eliminates Hamas Nukhba Force Commander, Participant in October 7 Massacre, Employed by UNRWA | IDF Drone Strike Eliminates Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander | IDF: Hezbollah Turned...
Israel at War Situation Report
Turkey Strikes Kurdish Positions in Iraq and Syria After Blaming PKK for Attack in Ankara
The Turkish air force carried out 47 strikes on Kurdish targets in both Iraq and Syria overnight on October 23-24, according to statements by the country’s Ministry of National...
Flash Briefs
US and Iraqi forces kill Islamic State leaders
The US military and Iraqi Security Forces killed four Islamic State (IS) leaders during an August 29 raid in western Iraq that resulted in the wounding of seven American soldiers. One of the IS leaders...
Op-eds
The perils of a Turkish-Syrian rapprochement
Since Turkey and Syria broke off relations in 2011, Ankara has played a prominent role in fighting Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria by supplying material support to insurgent groups seeking to overthrow...