Latest Articles

The Russia-Turkey Agreement on Idlib and its Impact on U.S. Policy in Syria

September 17, 2018  •  Perspectives with Ayman Sikseck / i24News

Does the latest agreement reached between Russia and Turkish over Idlib in Syria put an end to Assad's plan to launch an offensive and recapture the territory? Is it a temporary or permanent pause? What will it mean for the 3 million civilians caught up as pawns in the conflict? Matthew RJ Brodsky joins Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak of Tel Aviv University and former Kremlin advisor Alexander Nekrassov on i24News "Perspectives" with Ayman Sikseck to discuss the implications of the latest moves in Syria.

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Israel Strikes in Syria as Assad and Russia Prepare to Attack Idlib

September 4, 2018  •  Perspectives with Tracy Alexander / i24News

Matthew RJ Brodsky joins Senior Middle East Correspondent Mohammad Al-Kassim and Tracy Alexander on i24News "Perspectives" to discuss the latest reports that Israel struck a location in Syria near Russia's coastal naval base. They also examine what lies ahead for Idlib as Assad, Russia, and Iranian forces are ratcheting up their offensive.

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Piercing Through Assad's Reconstruction Mirage in Syria
Bashar al-Assad's refugee repatriation and reconstruction plans are a scam.

August 29, 2018  •  The National Interest

After more than seven years of devastating war, Bashar al-Assad suddenly changed his tune: "We encourage every Syrian to come back to Syria," the Syrian leader implored during a recent interview with Russian journalists. Less noticed was the degree of his specificity. "So we've been encouraging those refugees, many who have their own business, not only refugees in different countries," to come back to Syria. Assad may be joining with Russian president Vladimir Putin in calling for Europe to rebuild Syria and facilitate the return of refugees, but he is busy ensuring that it only applies to those who can make money for his regime or those who can provide rewards to his loyalists and outside state-sponsors, such as Iran and Russia.

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Syria: Obstacles to Reconstruction and Stability

August 29, 2018  •  A Hudson Institute Panel Discussion

On August 29, Hudson Institute hosted a panel to discuss the obstacles complicating reconstruction in Syria. Panelists included: Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian civil servant; Charles Lister, a senior fellow and director of the Extremism and Counterterrorism Program at the Middle East Institute; Mike Pregent, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute; Matthew RJ Brodsky, a Middle East expert, geopolitical analyst, and senior fellow at the Security Studies Group; and Randa Slim, the director of conflict resolution and the Track II Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute.

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The Financial Viability of the Assad Regime in Syria

August 14, 2018  •  A Security Studies Group Monograph

The Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria is a menace to the Syrian people and its neighbors in the region. As an enabler of Iranian expansion and Russian force projection it also presents problems for the United States and its allies. Conventional wisdom seems to be that Assad's final victory is close at hand and will be accompanied by a return to business as usual. The Security Studies Group examined what kept the regime financially afloat in order to identify future non-kinetic pressure points that can impact the behavior of the regime and its sponsors.

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