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"Michael Stephens, research fellow for Middle East studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think-tank in London, said: "It is fair to say that this decision has not gone down well in the UK or France, and I think we have been left in the lurch a bit and are having to play a reactive strategy to a president who doesn't have a strategy."
"It is very difficult to know exactly what the US is aiming at here and what their strategic priorities are... So from a European perspective, it's a confusing time and difficult to come up with a response." "
Trump's Syria policy dismays Europe as Turkey launches campaign
In The News, 10 October 2019 Tags: United States, Syria
"Raffaello Pantucci, director of international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said that European countries were concerned returnees “are likely to be the really hardened fighters and ideologues with a range of links which mean that among them there are people who will present a significant risk”. "
Turkey’s military incursion into Syria threatens to revive Isis cells
In The News, 9 October 2019 Tags: United States, Syria
"[From 1:35:10] It's just not clear so far from the policy statements what has actually been agreed, I certainly tend to share the views of Senator Lindsey Graham or the former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who have voiced concerns about this. Without more precision I think it is very difficult to draw a true assessment. It certainly does raise concerns about our level of commitment to the partners who really did the fighting and in many cases the dying, on the ground to eliminate the ISIS caliphate and defeat the Islamic State as an Army. "
Today Programme 08/10/2019
In The News, 8 October 2019 Tags: US Defence Policy, Syria, Global Security Issues, Middle East and North Africa
"Gen Petraeus said: "It certainly does raise concerns about our level of commitment to the partners, who really did the fighting, and in many cases the dying on the ground, to eliminate the ISIS caliphate and to defeat the Islamic State as an army.
"Keep in mind, there are still tens of thousands of Islamic State fighters in groups in north-eastern Syria... very likely trying to establish an insurgent movement as well as to still carry out terrorist attacks." "
American Troops Leaving Syria 'Raises Concerns Over US Commitment' To Allies
In The News, 8 October 2019 Tags: Turkey, US Defence Policy, Syria, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Europe, Middle East and North Africa
"Michael Stephens, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, another London-based think tank, said he was not altogether surprised by the U.S. decision and warned it could have far-reaching consequences for the region.
“Ultimately the question was not if the U.S. would withdraw, but when and how,” he said. “More concerning, of course, is how the fight against ISIS is run from this moment on. It is difficult to see how this agreement does anything other than give Turkey a carte blanche to socially engineer Kurdish majority areas of northeast Syria," Stephens added. "
Trump's backing for Turkey's Syria plan could cause havoc in an unstable region, experts warn
In The News, 7 October 2019 Tags: United States, Syria, Middle East and North Africa
"'Karin Von Hippel, director-general of the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London, said if the Kurds withdrew and left ISIS prison camps to be attacked by extremists, the fighters and their families could become the "nucleus of ISIS 2.0 or 3.0".
"ISIS could just take over the prisons if the Kurds leave,” she said. “I’m sure they’re planning that as we speak."' "
Turkish invasion of Syria would be 'godsend' for ISIS, experts warn
In The News, 7 October 2019 Tags: United States, Syria, Middle East and North AfricaPages
Could Russian S-400s Protect Syria Against Cruise Missiles?
Commentary, 19 April 2018Justin Bronk
Russia’s S-400 missiles can inflict damage, but not stop or defeat Western air strikes against Syria on their own.
Aerospace, Military Sciences, Syria
Strike Options for the US, France and the UK in Syria
Commentary, 11 April 2018Justin Bronk
In 2017, the US launched an ineffective cruise missile attack Syria’s Shayrat airbase in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack. So, what can the Western powers do now to deter the Assad regime from repeating last week’s chlorine gas attack on Douma?
United States, Russia, Military Sciences, Syria, France, UK
Syria: It’s Not Getting any Easier, It’s Getting Messier
Commentary, 22 February 2018Michael Stephens
Rather than winding down to a peaceable solution, Syria’s war is becoming more violent than ever. And it's down to outside powers supporting local actors
Turkey, Syria
Israel, Russia and Iran: Interests Trump All
Commentary, 13 February 2018Joseph Millis
A flare-up in the skies above Israel and Syria over the weekend has put a strain on Binyamin Netanyahu’s close ties with Vladimir Putin. The clash also makes it clear that Moscow is the boss when it comes to the Middle East.
Iran, Russia, Syria, Israel
Lebanon: The Return of Pax Syriana?
Commentary, 10 November 2017Kamal Alam
As Saudi Arabia yesterday ordered its citizens to leave Lebanon, Syria seems to be reasserting its historic control over its western neighbour.
Syria, Lebanon, Middle East and North AfricaPages
US Air Strikes Against Syrian Air Base
Multimedia, 7 April 2017Justin Bronk, Research Fellow at RUSI assesses the US airstrike against a Syrian airbase following the Syrian government's chemical attack in the Idlib province.
Tags: Aerospace, Military Sciences, Syria
The Middle East in 2017
Multimedia, 21 December 2016RUSI Research Fellow Dr Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi looks at the Middle East in 2017 and believes that key areas will include post-Daesh stablisation and the international role of Iran.
Tags: Iran, International Security Studies, Syria
The Assassination of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey
Multimedia, 19 December 2016Immediate reaction from RUSI research fellow Michael Stephens to the assassination of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey.
Tags: Turkey, Russia, Syria, Middle East and North Africa
The Battle for Aleppo, December 2016
Multimedia, 16 December 2016RUSI Research Fellows Michael Stephens and Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi assess the latest developments in Aleppo and the role of Russia and Iran.
Tags: International Security Studies, Syria, Middle East and North Africa
The War In Syria: Interview with Karin von Hippel from Royal United Services Institute
Multimedia, 23 September 2016Speaking to TRT World, RUSI Director General Karin von Hippel comments on the bombing of an aid convoy this week in Syria.
Tags: SyriaPages
The US–Turkey Strategic Stalemate
RUSI Newsbrief, 13 June 2019Michael Stephens
Despite Daesh’s military defeat there remains a significant clash between the US and Turkey about Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria. Should Washington continue to support the Kurds?
Turkey, United States, RUSI Newsbrief, Iraq, Counterinsurgency, Syria, Global Security Issues
Israel’s World is Shrinking: How the Iran–Russia Axis is Gaining Ground
RUSI Newsbrief, 18 April 2019Kyle Orton
Israeli opinion generally regards the country’s efforts to contain Iran, especially in Syria, as having been successful. In fact, the trendline runs the other way: Iran is constraining Israel,...
Iran, RUSI Newsbrief, Russia, Syria, Israel, Global Security Issues
Introducing a Trauma-Informed Practice Framework to Provide Support in Conflict-Affected Countries: The Case of the Syrian White Helmets
RUSI Journal, 28 January 2019Nicola Lester
A proposal for a ‘trauma-informed’ framework to provide training and support to the Syrian White Helmets.
RUSI Journal, Syria, Resilience, Middle East and North Africa
The Russian Military Commitment in Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean
Article, 17 October 2018Rod Thornton
Russia is likely to stay in the region for the long term.
Russia, Syria
The Rise of the Chemical Weapon State: From Salisbury to Syria
RUSI Newsbrief, 8 June 2018Ryan Henrici
The recent execution of chemical attacks by Moscow, Damascus and Pyongyang for diverse purposes may not only suggest that the prohibitive power of international conventions is now fading away, but...
RUSI Newsbrief, North Korea, International Security Studies, Russia, Syria, Global Security Issues, TechnologyPages
Book Launch – The Merchant of Syria
Events, 30 April 2018Diana Darke will give an illustrated talk on The Merchant of Syria, her newest book, the result of four years’ research into the socio-economic history of Syria through the life of one man, a textile...
RUSI International, Syria, Middle East and North Africa
The Syrian War: Seven Years In and No End in Sight
Events, 8 March 2018Rather than winding down to a peaceable solution, Syria’s war is becoming more violent than ever. This event considered the significant developments in Syria, the role of external powers and discuss...
RUSI International, Turkey, Syria, Global Security Issues, Middle East and North Africa
What Next in Syria?
Events, 25 October 2017President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, Rt Hon David Miliband led an expert panel discussion exploring the political, security and humanitarian aspects of the Syria crisis.
Syria
Stabilisation Challenges in Syria: In Conversation with Mark Ward, Director of the Syria Transition Assistance and Response Team (START)
Events, 27 May 2016RUSI is pleased to welcome Mark Ward, Director of START, to discuss the challenges the US, the UK and other partners have faced since the start of the civil war in Syria. He will also describe...
Turkey, US Defence Policy, International Security Studies, Counterinsurgency, Syria, Global Security Issues, Middle East and North Africa
"Michael Stephens, research fellow for Middle East studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think-tank in London, said: "It is fair to say that this decision has not gone down well in the UK or France, and I think we have been left in the lurch a bit and are having to play a reactive strategy to a president who doesn't have a strategy." "It is very difficult to know exactly what the US is aiming at here and what their strategic priorities are... So from a European perspective, it's a confusing time and difficult to come up with a response.""
Trump's Syria policy dismays Europe as Turkey launches campaign
In The News, 10 October 2019 Tags: United States, Syria
"Raffaello Pantucci, director of international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said that European countries were concerned returnees “are likely to be the really hardened fighters and ideologues with a range of links which mean that among them there are people who will present a significant risk”. "
Turkey’s military incursion into Syria threatens to revive Isis cells
In The News, 9 October 2019 Tags: United States, Syria
"[From 1:35:10] It's just not clear so far from the policy statements what has actually been agreed, I certainly tend to share the views of Senator Lindsey Graham or the former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who have voiced concerns about this. Without more precision I think it is very difficult to draw a true assessment. It certainly does raise concerns about our level of commitment to the partners who really did the fighting and in many cases the dying, on the ground to eliminate the ISIS caliphate and defeat the Islamic State as an Army. "
Today Programme 08/10/2019
In The News, 8 October 2019General (Retd) David H Petraeus
Tags: US Defence Policy, Syria, Global Security Issues, Middle East and North Africa
"Gen Petraeus said: "It certainly does raise concerns about our level of commitment to the partners, who really did the fighting, and in many cases the dying on the ground, to eliminate the ISIS caliphate and to defeat the Islamic State as an army. "Keep in mind, there are still tens of thousands of Islamic State fighters in groups in north-eastern Syria... very likely trying to establish an insurgent movement as well as to still carry out terrorist attacks.""
American Troops Leaving Syria 'Raises Concerns Over US Commitment' To Allies
In The News, 8 October 2019General (Retd) David H Petraeus
Tags: Turkey, US Defence Policy, Syria, Defence Policy, Global Security Issues, Europe, Middle East and North Africa
"'Karin Von Hippel, director-general of the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London, said if the Kurds withdrew and left ISIS prison camps to be attacked by extremists, the fighters and their families could become the "nucleus of ISIS 2.0 or 3.0". "ISIS could just take over the prisons if the Kurds leave,” she said. “I’m sure they’re planning that as we speak."'"
Turkish invasion of Syria would be 'godsend' for ISIS, experts warn
In The News, 7 October 2019 Tags: United States, Syria, Middle East and North Africa
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