Another fine mess: Syria after the US exit
Turkey’s invasion means Europeans can no longer be bystanders to Syria. They must now take three urgent steps.
Syria / Iraq / Lebanon
European foreign fighters in Syria: The cost of inaction
Repatriation remains the most effective way for EU member states to assess each case, prosecute jihadists where necessary, and interrogate returnees to learn more about ISIS methods and plans
Iraq after the “October protests”: A different country
Popular protests are no new phenomenon in Iraq. But this latest round may transform both the government and the country.
The geopolitics of reconstruction: Who will rebuild Syria?
Rebuilding Syria will not be needs driven, rather the regime will aim to subdue the emergence of meaningful civilian opposition
A framework for European-Russian cooperation in Syria
If European-Russian cooperation is to move forward in Syria both sides need to settle for an outcome that delivers less than what they currently seek
A tribunal for ISIS fighters?
The goal of establishing an international tribunal to prosecute ISIS fighters is gaining momentum in European capitals, however, whether this aspiration can be translated into a credible policy remains to be seen
When Iran goes to Iraq: The significance of Rouhani’s trip
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani's first official trip to Iraq signals the beginning of a new chapter in Iran-Iraq relations, one that rising tensions between Tehran and Washington could complicate.
The price of disengagement: Syria and the Brussels III conference
At the Brussels III fundraising conference, the question of how to help civilians without legitimizing the ascendant Assad regime looms large.
In legal limbo: EU returnees in the post-ISIS era
European governments are avoiding international obligations to take their own citizens back. And the Trump administration has noticed.
The economic war on Syria: Why Europe risks losing
Sanctions can never be ‘smart’; new EU and US measures on Syria are only likely to strengthen the regime, not weaken it