Syrian Government Again Accused of Using Chlorine on Civilians
The Syrian government is suspected of dropping barrel bombs containing chlorine gas on an opposition-held neighborhood in eastern Aleppo. The Syrian Civil Defence, a rescue […] More
Syria
ISIS' Number Two Killed in Air Strike: Will It Weaken the Terrorist Group?
ISIS’ Amaq News Agency reported that Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, one of the group’s most prominent and longest-tenured leaders, was killed in an air strike on […] More
Syria: No End In Sight
As the Syrian civil war progresses with no end in sight, Rob Richer, former Associate Deputy Director for Operations at the CIA and member of […] More
Turkish Moves in Syria Show Policy Shift & Politicking
A fresh wave of Turkish tanks rolled into Syria yesterday, in an effort to both fight the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) […] More
UN: Assad Used Chemical Weapons in Syria
A United Nations investigation for the first time has laid blame for using chemical weapons on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, according to a new […] More
Russian Use of Iranian Airbase Comes to an Abrupt End
Last week, the world learned of the unprecedented revelation that Russia was using Iran’s Hamadan military base to launch strikes into Syria. This week, that […] More
Kurdish Gains Spur New Assad Game Plan
The Syrian regime’s bombing of Syrian Kurdish forces in the country’s far northeast is a notable change in strategy, illustrating just how concerned Damascus is […] More
Russia's Checkered History of Intelligence Sharing with the U.S.
On July 15, the United States and Russia announced a tentative agreement on Syria which, according to media reports, would establish a joint command center […] More
The Forgotten Dimension of the Syrian Conflict
The complex proxy war in Syria has demonstrated both the reach and limitations of Iran’s strategic influence. By mobilizing a wide range of strategic, tactical, […] More
The Myth of a "Locally Focused" Former Al Qaeda Affiliate in Syria
The recent “cancellation” of Jabhat al Nusra’s operations along with the formation of a new entity independent from al Qaeda, named Jabhat Fatah al Sham, […] More
Envisioning the Future
After six years of war, I find it difficult to imagine what Syria will look like after it all ends. Villages resemble ghost towns, while […] More
Fictionalizing Syria
It is now almost six years since the Syrian Revolution began, and to this day, the concept of an “ideal” end state remains vague and […] More
Will Syria’s Most Productive Citizens Ever Return Home?
Today, five years after democratic protests against Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s regime turned into open civil conflict, the ebb and flow of inconclusive military […] More
Intelligence and Policy in the Face of Terrorism
A slightly different version of this article appeared recently in the Washington Times. General Hayden has requested that we reprint it in The Cipher Brief […] More
Erdogan's Weathervane Foreign Policy
On June 27, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey would be normalizing relations with Israel and Russia. This 180-degree policy shift came after his […] More
Is Turkey Returning to a Policy of “Zero Problems?”
Once defined by the catchphrase “Zero Problems with Neighbors,” the foreign policy of current Turkish President—and former Prime Minister—Recep Tayipp Erdogan and his Justice and […] More
Experts Doubt Aleppo "Regime of Calm"
Strikes and continuous violence have strained the fresh Aleppo cease-fire the United States and Russia brokered this week, leaving experts doubtful any cessation of hostilities […] More
Turbulence in Turkey
In light of the ongoing military coup attempt in Istanbul, here is The Cipher Brief’s recent feature explaining the myriad problems facing Turkey. We will […] More