My latest contribution to The Middle East Uncovered Substack focuses on the role of the three warlords currently ruling Syria: Mazloum Abdi, Hikmat Al-Hijri and Ahmad Al-Sharaa. Can the U.S. bring them together to agree on a power-sharing arrangement? www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/the-trio-v...

Playing the Tribal Card www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/playing-th...

Sectarianism Is Eating Syria’s Transition Alive www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/sectariani...

Should the U.S. Ban the Muslim Brotherhood? My friend and colleague @faisalalmutar and I examine the serious implications of such a step, and we recommend against it for a number of philosophical and practical reasons. www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/should-the...

This was a goode event. The situation in Syria remains n flux, but there are reasons to be optimistic for the first time in decades. youtu.be/0W2RWfzp4Lk?...

سوريا الجديدة تحتاج إلى تفكير جديد: في مقالي لـ "المجلة،" أطرح ضرورة فتح حوار مباشر بين السوريين والإسرائيليين — حوار صريح، استراتيجي، ومنطلق من مصلحة الطرفين. لن يكون الحوار سهلاً، لكن القبول بالوضع الحالي أصعب. الحوار السوري – الإسرائيلي... ضرورة اللحظة وبناء الثقة www.majalla.com/node/325825

A new Syria demands new thinking: In my latest for Al-Majalla, I argue that the time has come for a direct Syrian-Israeli dialogue—honest, strategic, and rooted in mutual interest. It won’t be easy, but neither is the status quo. Read the full piece: en.majalla.com/node/325820/...

Syria post Assad: What Next? – SPME - spme.org/activities/s...

For my latest take on Syria's transition, you can listen in on this podcast with my dear friend Dr. Paul Williams founder of the Public Law and Policy Group. youtu.be/z00jPr7E4yg?...

The European Union’s decision to suspend sanctions on Syria for one year is a significant step toward potential permanent relief, promising positive impacts on Syrians’ daily lives and sustainable development. 1/2 www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

This marks a historic milestone: for the first time, Syria has a presence at the World Economic Forum, represented by the caretaker Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani. 1/ www.youtube.com/live/Pnwd91t...

لقائي مع ماهر غبرة في بودكاست "بالعربي" يتناول قضية رفع العقوبات على سوريا، ومعالم المرحلة الانتقالية فيها، علاوة على أوجه التشابه ما بين الحركة التصحيحية في 1973 والحركة التحريرية اليوم. youtu.be/WpfikbFczfA?...

My latest article in The Hill explores parallels between developments during Hafiz Al-Assad's Corrective Movement and Syria's current transitional phase. 1/2 Lessons from Syria’s volatile past for its uncertain future - thehill.com/opinion/inte...

Below is my article published earlier today by the Lawfare Institute. It deals with Syria’s Islamists, secularists and evolving communal dynamics in the aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime. go.shr.lc/4h7ynjr

مقالتي التي نشرت في جريدة "القدس العربي" في الثاني من الشهر go.shr.lc/3BMdfjZ

I believe a four-year wait before holding elections is not unreasonable, as long as the transitional government is sufficiently diverse and the interim governance structure remains responsive to criticism while respecting basic human rights. 1/

Since the liberation, the prices of basic goods in Damascus have dropped by as much as 50%, due to the removal of the exorbitant taxes previously imposed by the regime. This immediate improvement in living conditions serves as a stark indicator of just how corrupt the defunct system was. #Syria

I was sipping my cardamom tea while writing this article for @newlinesmag.bsky.social, exploring the subtle—and not so subtle—implications of the ongoing debate about the future of alcohol consumption in Syria. Spoiler alert: it's about far more than just a drink. newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

The alcohol question is not a frivolous one - it strikes at the core of the debate about the nature of Syria's new state, argues @theactualammar.bsky.social in @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

Public protests and demonstrations are not the only avenue for expressing grievances. Perhaps it's time to repurpose the cultural centers originally established under Assad's Baath Party into public forums where citizens can gather to discuss current developments and future course of the country 1/2

الاحتجاجات والمظاهرات العامة ليست الوسيلة الوحيدة للتعبير عن المظالم. ربما حان الوقت لإعادة تخصيص المراكز الثقافية التي أنشأها حزب البعث في عهد الأسد - والتي كانت تُستخدم لنشر أيديولوجيته السامة - إلى منتديات عامة يمكن أن يجتمع فيها المواطنون لمناقشة التطورات الحالية ومسار البلاد المستقبلي. 1/2

At this critical juncture, forming an inter-communal, inter-regional council of elders could be a transformative step. Such a council could travel across the country, engaging with local communities, addressing their concerns, and relaying those concerns to the authorities. 1/2

Another pivotal moment is unfolding before our eyes. While its pace might seem slow compared to the rapid developments in Syria, this is, in reality, a fast-moving situation. The military junta that has ruled Myanmar since 1962 appears to be on its last legs. 1/2

The time for Syrian refugees to return home is drawing nearer, but we’re not there yet. The process must be methodical, gradual, and carefully managed. The infrastructure—homes, roads, hospitals, schools, the electrical grid—must be renovated and expanded to accommodate the returning population. 1/

The photo below shows thousands of Syrians demonstrating in the Omayyad Square in Damascus earlier today, demanding adherence to secular democratic norms.

My interview on Tonight with Andrew Marr that took place on 17/12, where I discuss current developments in #Syria and give my assessment of Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s pragmatism. www.linkedin.com/posts/amarji...

We must make an unequivocal stand now in favor of civil rights—both individual and communal—gender equality, and fair representation. Waiting until their rule is fully consolidated will be too late. What we need are formal commitments, concrete guarantees, and clear arrangements—not vague promises.

It’s crucial for us to remember that our struggle against Assad was long and hard-it lasted over 5000 days, not ten,- and we have made immense sacrifices to remove this criminal from power. Yet the battle is far from over. If liberal democracy is our ultimate goal, there’s still a long road ahead.

We must make an unequivocal stand now in favor of civil rights—both individual and communal—gender equality and fair representation. Waiting until Islamist rule is fully consolidated will be too late. What we need are formal commitments, concrete guarantees, and clear arrangements—not vague promises

The Assad dynasty operated as a ruthless crime syndicate, profiting from embezzlement, blackmail, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and murder. Every member was complicit—there were no "Michael Corleones" in this family, only "Sonnys" and "Fredos." 1/2 #Syria

He takes no responsibility for anything—everything that happened was someone else’s fault. In his fantastical narrative, he was abandoned on the battlefield, betrayed and forsaken, like Hussein in #Karbala. 1/2

Both #Turkiye and Israel are seeking to establish buffer zones in #Syria, driven by their unwillingness to address the deeper political roots of their own internal challenges. But buffer zones won’t make the Kurdish or Palestinian Questions disappear. 1/

Many will criticize the EU and US decision to maintain sanctions on #Syria until specific conditions are met (protections for the rights of minorities and women and disavowal of religious extremism). 1/2

We must extend a hand of friendship to the pro-democracy movement in the Republic of #Georgia and support their courageous efforts—however symbolically—in resisting #Russia's encroachment and influence. #Syria #GeorgiaProtests #UnitedAgainstDictators

If lifting sanctions is impractical at this stage, perhaps the State Department could issue licenses and exemptions for both commercial and non-profit organizations seeking to provide humanitarian aid and support reconstruction efforts. 1/

Morale among #Assad’s forces was abysmally low. Most soldiers were forcibly conscripted, treated like expendable tools, and subjected to the corruption and neglect of their absent, self-serving superiors. 1/

ICYMI: Watch @benjaminwittes.bsky.social, @sranderson.bsky.social, @theactualammar.bsky.social, and Charles Lister discuss the current situation in Syria, who the Syrian rebel groups, including HTS, are, what might happen now, and so much more. youtube.com/live/JYIYQL-...

I have just taken part in a great discussion on #Syria on the @Lawfare.bsky.social Live Podcast alongside Charles Lister, @sranderson.bsky.social and the podcast host Ben Wittes. I am sure you'll find it quite informative.

I was very honored to have been today's guest on the Dog Shirt Podcast where I got to to discuss all things Syrian with my long-time friend Ben Wittes and his co-hosts Holly and Eva. If you have time do watch, do so. I tend to be very honest and objective, if I say so myself youtu.be/piiRp7nOscQ?...

Challenges (1): Is Al-Jolani’s pragmatism genuine, and more importantly, is it widely accepted within the ranks of his group? Can he maintain enough influence to contain radical factions advocating for the imposition of Sharia law or pushing for aggressive campaigns against Israel and Saudi Arabia?

If your fear that the unknown might be worse than the present inspires you to accept an oppressive status quo, you surrender your chance to be free. An oppressive regime will never allow the space to prepare for a better alternative. 1/

The journey ahead remains fraught with challenges and the possibility of setbacks. The road to freedom is never smooth or straight. It is marked by ups and downs, twists and turns. Yet, with the fall of #Assad, we have reached an important milestone—a beacon of hope for what lies ahead. #Syria

If enduring this conflict was the price we had to pay to learn how to break free from the confines of sectarianism and to begin trusting one another across the communal spectrum, then perhaps it was worth it. Out of this turmoil, we have a chance to forge a true nation. #Syria

Syria has risen. Verily, she has risen once more. The land of prophets and heretics, of unrelenting oppression and audacious hope, has done it again. She has gifted us a final act to what once seemed an endless tragedy—an act as poignant and profound as the first riveting chapter of this saga. 1/

The fall of the #Assad regime and the loss of their bases in #Syria is a major blow to #Russia and #Iran. They emerge from this conflict weakened, rattled, and exposed.

This is the end of "forever," again. But until when do we have to go through this foolish cycle of mindless oppression and rebellious hope? I am tired, I admit. But not too tired to resist the temptation of another ride. #Syria #Damascus

Rebels have entered #Damascus peacefully, and are in control of the main TV station. #Assad officially declared not to be in Damascus and had probably fled the country. #Syria is rising from 14 years of conflict. There's still plenty of difficulties ahead but an important milestone has been crossed.

It happened. #Saydnaya Prison has fallen. We need the archives to be preserved, and we need a forensic team to enter the premises ASAP. This is a crime scene and needs to be preserved so that investigators could carry out their work and collect evidence. 1/2

I have been through all the emotions in the world in the span of few intoxicating hours. I did not know I can still feel anything: I was numb for so many years, and I found strength in it. Now that I can feel again, I feel too... vulnerable.

Today Notre Dame rises from the ashes, while Bashar Al-Assad sinks in them. #Syria #NotreDameCathedral #Assad