My piece with @joosthiltermann.bsky.social in @foreignaffairs.com “If the U.S.-led world order is a geopolitical game of Jenga, it could well be Israel that ends up pulling the final piece….Trump has made the first step in reversing course on this trend” www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/gaza-...

Read @joosthiltermann.bsky.social and @natashahall.bsky.social on how Israel has continually upended the Trump administration’s policies—and how the new cease-fire deal could “turn into yet another failed U.S.-led peace initiative.”

Spoke w/ @bloomberg.com this afternoon on Vance's visit to Israel, MBS' upcoming visit to DC, and what's left of the ceasefire. In short, the US will need to stay deeply involved to keep the ceasefire in Gaza intact and to move both sides to the next phase. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbX...

I wrote about the reasons for the durability of authoritarianism in the Middle East with @joosthiltermann.bsky.social. Spoiler alert: we don't think it's Islam or "culture." cihrs-rowaq.org/views-the-we...

“To appease his right flank and ensure his own political survival, Netanyahu might be tempted to resume the war on Hamas once the hostages are freed and obstruct meaningful humanitarian aid once again,” write @joosthiltermann.bsky.social and @natashahall.bsky.social.

“if we can’t even get a deal on humanitarian aid flowing unimpeded back into Gaza, I’m pretty pessimistic” Chatting w/ @kaileyleinz & @JMathieuReports @BloombergTV about Gaza, Iran, Israel and ceasefire talks m.youtube.com/watch?v=ICj4...

"President Trump’s recent announcement to lift sanctions on Syria is an important first step, but it’s not enough," write @natashahall.bsky.social and Ninar Fawal. Read more in @foreignaffairs.com on Syria's recovery:

My latest with colleague Ninar Fawal on the next steps for Syria in @foreignaffairs.com In short, clear the path of spoilers to allow Syria to recover. The announcement of sanctions relief is an incredible first step but it isn't the only one. www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/can-sy...

After a dry winter, Syria adds a severe water crisis in the capital to its many troubles, report @apnews.com’s Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith al-Sayed. apnews.com/article/syri...

“This is the historic statement and peace offering that we’ve been waiting for to meet the historic moment of the end of the house of Assad” My thoughts w/ @dwnews on #Syria #SaudiArabia and @realDonaldTrump announcement on sanctions m.youtube.com/watch?v=qAVa...

“How much influence do you think the US president has over Netanyahu?” ….my thoughts on Gaza, Israel, and expectations for Trump’s Gulf trip youtu.be/zEasfTLc63k?...

From the @FinancialTimes editorial board www.ft.com/content/f5fd...

"The trends are clear: By 2050, every single country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will live under extremely high water stress," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social Learn more:

#Yarmouk was destroyed & stripped to the ground. What’s striking is the lack of anything other than cement. Not a piece of furniture, not a tile. It’s the kind of destruction you undertake when you want to ensure people can’t return. #Syria

“There is so much assistance that is desperately needed to accomplish any of these things [that the White House is demanding] and to secure the country, let alone begin any kind of development...Time is running out.” #Syria spoke to @jmalsin.bsky.social @wsj.com www.wsj.com/world/middle...

My latest in the @nytimes.com on Syria. Don’t let a once in a lifetime opportunity for US foreign policy slip away

"There is no way this government survives" without sanctions relief, argues @natashahall.bsky.social to Arab News about the challenges facing #Syria's new government. Read her recent comments below 👇

"Every country in the Middle East and North Africa will experience extreme water stress by 2050, meaning that all will be using at least 80% of their available water supplies," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social More on the politics of water insecurity:

"The Middle East is no stranger to water scarcity and violence, but the region is now at a tipping point," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social Learn more about the politics of water insecurity in the Middle East:

The Israelis just hit the building next to my aunt’s house in Syria. 6 people died. She’s in shock. This has to stop. news.sky.com/video/syrias...

"Qatar is set to supply Syria with gas via Jordan to improve the nation's meager power supply, three people familiar with the matter said, in a move that a U.S. official said had Washington's approval." Timour Azhari & Andrew Mills, @reuters.com www.reuters.com/business/ene...

On the SDF-govt deal “Sharaa is reeling from the weekend’s violence…He is looking for wins w/ the intl community, knowing that Kurds have good relations w/ the US & even perhaps Israel. He’s playing a strategic game by signing the agreement.” www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/m...

While parts of the Middle East are inherently water scarce, tensions in the region and governance issues have brought the region to a tipping point. @natashahall.bsky.social stresses urgency in addressing the politics of water insecurity. More from @mideast.csis.org ⤵️

Happening Tomorrow | @natashahall.bsky.social hosts a panel of experts to discuss a new CSIS report on the politics of water scarcity in the Middle East. 🕔 10:00 - 11:00AM ET 📆 March 11, 2025 📍 Online Register here:

NEW report: The Thirst for Power: Overcoming the Politics of Water in the Middle East “water can no longer be put on hold in the region. The choice is stark. Either change course or face far greater challenges in the future.” #Iraq #Syria #Yemen #Jordan #Gaza #WestBank www.csis.org/analysis/tip...

Spoke to @MarcoWerman @TheWorld about the reemerging relationship b/w Syria's new govt and Russia. Astounding that Syrians would have to reach out to Moscow again and that the US is missing a historic strategic opportunity. theworld.org/segments/202...

Spoke to @brhodes on the geopolitical challenges Syria faces. If I sound exasperated, I am. Never has the right thing & the strategic thing to do been so closely aligned. To see that opportunity thrown away is heartbreaking. #Turkey #Israel #Russia #PKK open.spotify.com/episode/5CRi...

I’ll be on C-SPAN today at 8:45am to talk all things #Gaza, #Syria, and a bit of US foreign #aid. The three complicated topics that I’ve devoted about 15 years of my life to. Looking forward to your questions. www.c-span.org/event/washin...

“Trump’s rhetoric alone about Gaza is an existential threat to Jordan’s stability,” says @natashahall.bsky.social to the Washington Examiner about President Trump's call to relocate Gazans to #Jordan. Read her recent comments here:

Netherlands confirms that there are "significant" stockpiles of undeclared CW and production facilities in Syria. h/t @vreij.bsky.social open.overheid.nl/documenten/8...

My piece with Survival is out: With the Fall of Assad, Can Syria Rise? In it, I lay out the interests and potential actions of various stakeholders outside Damascus. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Great step forward in accountability and ending the scourge of chemical weapons in Syria. The DG said, “This visit marks a reset. After eleven years of obstruction by the previous authorities”

Great to chat with/ my brilliant colleague @msnegovaya.bsky.social and former comrade @hannanotte.bsky.social on Russia in the Middle East after the fall of Assad in Syria and the state of the region and its spoilers today. Check out the podcast Russian Roulette 👇

Please join me and @natashahall.bsky.social for a webinar "The Future of Syria's Chemical Weapons Stockpile" sponsored by the CWC Coalition. Wednesday, January 29, 2025 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., U.S. Eastern Time us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Yes, yes we should. Read this piece by @natashahall.bsky.social and me for why securing and destroying Syria's remaining chemical weapons needs to be a priority for the US and allies, Syria, and the OPCW. www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/syria-...

“Natural disasters tend to expose the fault lines & the vulnerabilities in societies. You see this w/ who is able to rebuild & move on with their lives, and those who are displaced for years & sometimes decades” My take on fires in Cali & natural disasters www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...

Despite reports about an agreement between #Hamas and #Israel, @natashahall.bsky.social cautions that there remain many points of uncertainty and challenges for implementation. Watch her latest comments for DW News here:

Told @dwnews last night that it should surprise no one that Israel didn’t agree to essentially the same deal on #Gaza months ago b/c: 1) US didn’t use its leverage to push Netanyahu 2) Netanyahu wants to give Trump the win www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndoZ...

“This is a challenging legacy issue for President Biden” to say the least My thoughts on the current and future challenges to a Gaza/Israel ceasefire w/ @bloombergtv.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

After the fall of Bashar al-Assad, domestic and international forces are working to shape the future direction of #Syria. In a recent #Babel episode, Jon Alterman, @willtodmany.bsky.social and @natashahall.bsky.social break down Syria's transitional challenges. Listen here: buff.ly/4gbZwBP

Good to see US and others at UNSC prioritizing Syrian cooperation with OPCW and elimination of remaining chemical weapons. For more on this, see my recent @foreignaffairs.com article with @natashahall.bsky.social www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/syria-...

Got an email from an angry viewer for covering this last night so re-upping this article from @haaretzcom.bsky.social which is extremely extensively reported and disturbing. Here’s a gift link. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Read @gregkoblentz.bsky.social and @natashahall.bsky.social on how U.S. officials can help ensure that Syria’s remaining chemical weapons are disposed of safely and securely—and that the perpetrators of chemical attacks are held accountable for their crimes.

Pleased to announce a new article in @foreignaffairs.com with @natashahall.bsky.social on the threat posed by Syria's remaining chemical weapons and the need to eliminate this threat and hold the former regime accountable for its chemical atrocities. www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/syria-...

In my latest commentary with @foreignaffairs.com, @gregkoblentz.bsky.social and I write about Syria’s toxic legacy of chemical weapons and what needs to be done immediately to make CW a thing of the past. www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/syria-...

Earlier today, Jon Alterman, @natashahall.bsky.social and I sat down to talk through the domestic and regional forces shaping Syria's post-Assad moment for a special episode of Babel: www.csis.org/podcasts/bab...

A deeper dive on the fall of Assad with the @WarInstitute. #Syria In a nutshell: The fragility of unbearable status quos are only surprising to those who don’t have to live with them. open.spotify.com/episode/4tvE...

Chatted w/ @nytimes.com on the situation in Syria’s north b/w Turkey and the SDF. My take: if there isn’t a sustainable peace agreement b/w these actors, a US withdrawal isn’t possible w/o major security ramifications www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/w...

My take on what the US can do for #Syria and rumors of a ceasefire in Gaza. (There will be a ceasefire if Trump can claim he is responsible for it) @bloomberglp.bsky.social Doesn’t necessarily end suffering in Gaza www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

@csis.org The Truth of the Matter: Syria’s House of Cards with @natashahall.bsky.social www.csis.org/podcasts/tru...