Stimson addresses Syria’s civil war and its regional repercussions; in June 2014, we released a study on lessons from past stabilization efforts for US engagement with Syrians affected by the crisis, and we continue to monitor the spillover from the war on Lebanon, Jordan, and on the broader ideological and sectarian tensions in the wider region. From 2011-2014, Stimson co-chaired the Lebanon Working Group with the US Institute of Peace.
Syria/Lebanon Publications
Lessons Learned for Stablization in Syria, June 2014, Stimson Center
By Mona Yacoubian
“Syria and the New Iraq: Between Rivalry and Rapprochement,” in Iraq, Its Neighbors and the United States: Competition, Crisis, and the Reordering of Power, edited by Henri Barkey, Scott Lasensky, and Phebe Marr, United States Institute of Peace, 2012
Dealing with Damascus: Seeking a Greater Return on U.S.-Syrian Relations, Council Special Report No. 33, June 2008, Council on Foreign Relations Press
By Mona Yacoubian and Scott Lasensky
Towards a More Secure and Stable Lebanon: Prospects for Security Sector Reform, February 2008, Stimson Center
By Emile El-Hokayem and Elena McGovern
Syria/Lebanon Analysis
Arming Syrian rebels: Deja vu all over again, September 25, 2014
With Geneive Abdo and Rachel Stohl, The Hill
Opinion: Arab public has no faith in US, September 19, 2014
With Geneive Abdo and Lulwa Rizkallah, CNN
A Strategy to Rescue Diplomacy on Syria, February 25, 2014
With Mona Yacoubian, Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Center
Interview| Can Syrian Talks Inch Forward? February 6, 2014
With Mona Yacoubian, Council on Foreign Relations
Video| Making Sense of the Geneva II Syria Peace Talks, January 29, 2014
With Mona Yacoubian at The Atlantic Council
Audio| Syrian Peace Talks on the Brink of Collapse, January 21, 2014
With Mona Yacoubian on the Takeaway
Interview Part Two| ‘Jihadists have a number of cards to play to undermine a diplomatic solution,’ January 16, 2014
With Mona Yacoubian, Syria Direct
Interview | Geneva likely to be ‘an exercise in checking the box,’January 16, 2014
With Mona Yacoubian, Syria Direct
Discussion on Syria, January 08, 2014
With Mona Yacoubian, NYU in Washington Global Leaders Series
Sectarianism and the Balkanization of the Levant, November 15, 2013
With Mona Yacoubian, Middle East Institute 2013 Annual Conference
Geneva 1.5, November 20, 2013
Mona Yacoubian for Foreign Policy
Interview | Syrian Civil War and Chemical Weapons, November 3, 2013
Mona Yacoubian on C-SPAN: Washington Journal
Video| The Syrian Catastrophe: Regional Implications, September 25, 2013
Mona Yacoubian at The Crown Center for Middle East Studies (Brandies University)
Video| The Syrian Tragedy: Ending the Bloodshed, September 24, 2013
Mona Yacoubian at John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum
Audio| Syria and Iran cementing long-term economic ties via oil, August 2, 2013
Mona Yacoubian on The Voice of Russia
Audio| Mona Yacoubian on Voice of America’s “Encounter”, July 26, 2013
Mona Yacoubian discusses Washington’s response to the Syrian conflict
The Security Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic: Implications for U.S. National Security and U.S. Policy Options, July 17, 2013
Mona Yacoubian’s written testimony for the House Armed Services Committee
Video| The Security Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic: Implications for U.S. National Security and U.S. Policy Options, July 17, 2013
Mona Yacoubian testifies before the House Armed Services Committee
Video| The Crisis in Syria: What Are the Stakes for Syria’s Neighbors?, July 16, 2013
Mona Yacoubian speaks at Middle East Policy Council’s 73rd Capitol Hill Conference
Audio| The debate over U.S. arms aid for Syrian rebels, June 18, 2013
Mona Yacoubian on WHYY’s “Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane”
Audio| Mona Yacoubian w/Tim Farley on POTUS Morning Briefing, June 18, 2013
Mona Yacoubian on SiriusXM’s “The Morning Briefing with Tim Farley”
Video| Continued Conflict in Syria, June 9, 2013
Mona Yacoubian on CSPAN’s Washington Journal
Video│ Civil Unrest in Syria, June 7, 2013
Mona Yacoubian on CSPAN
Op-ed: Give Peace Talks in Syria a chance, May 10, 2013
Mona Yacoubian’s op-ed at CNN.com
Video| US Policy Towards Syria, March 10, 2013
Mona Yacoubian on CSPAN’s Washington Journal
Interview| Syria’s Continuing Civil War, March 7, 2013
Mona Yacoubian at Council on Foreign Relations
Video| The Syrian Conflict and the Shape it May Take in the Future, February 23, 2013
Mona Yacoubian, American University – Washington School of Law Middle East Forum
“Roundtable: Arming the Syrian Rebels,” February 21, 2013
By Marc Lynch, Daniel Byman, Emile Hokayem and Mona Yacoubian
Video| Developments in Syria, December 10, 2012
Mona Yacoubian on CSPAN’s Washington Journal
Video| Post-Assad Syria Discussion, December 18. 2012
Mona Yacoubian at the Center for National Policy
Video| Syria Update, December 9, 2012
Mona Yacoubian on CSPAN’s Washington Journal
“Why Arming Syrian Rebels is a Bad Idea,” October 26, 2012
By Rachel Stohl and Alison Giffen
Video| US Policymaking Considerations Regarding Regional Dynamics of Syria, October 25, 2012
By Mona Yacoubian, at National Council on US-Arab Relations
“Shifting the paradigm in Syria,” October 12, 2012
By Mona Yacoubian, in Foreign Policy
Audio| Regional Dimensions of the Syrian Crisis, September 27, 2012
By Mona Yacoubian, at the MEI
Syria/Lebanon News
Mona Yacoubian is interviewed on the future of the Syrian peace talks at the Council on Foreign Relations. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian participated in a discussion with Frederic Hof at the Atlantic Council on January 29, 2014, on how the outcomes of the Geneva conference may impact the civil war. Click here to watch.
Mona Yacoubian participates in the NYU in Washington Global Leaders Series. Click here to watch.
Mona Yacoubian particpates in the Middle East Institute’s Annual Conference 2013. Click here to watch.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in the Inter Press Service on the cancellation of US-Egypt joint military exercises. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian’s House Armed Services Committee testimony on Syria is quoted in the Diplomatic Courier. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted on NPR on the prospects for the U.S. – Russian peace initiative in Syria. Click here to listen.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted on CCTV regarding the Syrian cvil war and use of chemical weapons (video). Click here to watch.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Washington Diplomat on the Syrian Dilemma. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Middle East Online on divisions among Syrian rebels. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Reuters on military options for US in Syria. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Agence France-Presse on allegations of chemical attacks by Assad’s regime. Click here to read the article.
Mona Yacoubian is interviewed on NPR Morning Edition about allegations of Syrian chemical weapons use and US response. Click here to listen.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in the New York Times on February 28, 2013, on US policy towards Syria. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Reuters on December 17, 2012, about jihadis gaining greater influence in the Syrian conflict. Click here to read the article.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in McClatchy Newspapers on October 5, 2012, on continuing tensions between Syria and Turkey. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald on October 5, 2012, on the spike in tensions between Syria and Turkey. Click here to read.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Reuters on September 17, 2012, about the U.S. approach to the growing number of foreign jihadi fighters in the Syrian conflict. Click here to read the article.
Mona Yacoubian is quoted in Reuters on July 27, 2012, about prolonged fighting in Syria and the ensuing chaos. Click here to read the article.
Syria/Lebanon Events
Syria Beyond Assad: Building A New Syria From The Grassroots
On March 7, 2012, Stimson and the Middle East Institute co-sponsored a panel discussion on grassroots efforts to begin laying the groundwork for a new Syria.
Click here to read a summary of the event. Click here to listen to the event.On October 11, 2012, Stimson hosted Renata Dwan, Senior Officer, Civilians Capacities Project, United Nations, and a former United Nations observer in Syria, who discussed her experiences there and lessons learned.
No End in Sight: Syria After the UN Vote, February 16, 2012