Bashar al-Assad
42 Articles
Turkey’s Humanitarian Rationale for its Idlib Offensive in Syria
The legality of forcible humanitarian intervention is the subject of great debate. But the situation in Idlib over the past year had grown catastrophic.
To Watch “For Sama” Is To Bear Witness
“To try and live a normal life in this place is to stand against the regime.” Those are the words of Waad al-Kateab, a young filmmaker and mother, who chronicles her life in…
Bad Legal Arguments for the Syria Strikes
There is no apparent domestic or international legal authority for the airstrikes conducted in Syria on April 14.
Paying Attention to Land Rights in Syria Negotiations
As President Donald Trump ponders his response to yet another chemical weapons attack in Syria, advisers and commentators alike are mired in short-term calculations. But one day…
The Downsides of Bombing Syria
Air strikes would raise very serious legal and practical concerns.
Evidence Unsealed in Colvin v. Syria
Media are reporting another chemical weapon attack in Syria (a summary of prior attacks is here). Notwithstanding these breaches of an indisputable international law rule, there…
Just Security Podcast: Sam Vinograd on Trump’s Weakness Toward Russia on Syria
Last Friday, I spoke with former National Security Council official Samantha Vinograd about President Trump’s reluctance to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin, and…
U.S. “Confronting” Iran inside Syria: Spoiling for an Unlawful Fight?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meet during the BRICS/SCO Summits – Russia 2015 on July 09, 2015 in Ufa, Russia. (Photo by Alexey Filippov/Host…
Questions Raised by Syria’s Chemical Weapons Attack
Details are still emerging about Tuesday’s chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun in northern Syria, but the US, France and Britain have already condemned the Syrian government…
Safe Zones for Syria: A List of Questions that Policymakers Need to Answer
President Donald Trump seems intent on creating so-called “safe zones” in Syria. Last week he told ABC’s David Muir, “I’ll absolutely do safe zones…
“Effective” Policy in Syria: Ambassador Robert Ford’s View
I wrote here yesterday in response to a post by Marty Lederman and Ashley Deeks about the recent, much-publicized dissent channel cable signed by 51 US diplomats. While my discussion…
Another Legal View of the Dissent Channel Cable on Syria
Since Vietnam, East Pakistan, and the Balkans, it has been a time-honored tradition that State Department officials who disagree with official policy may challenge it through the…