Syrian opposition
31 Articles
The Inevitable Day of Reckoning in Syria
President Trump's decision to disengage with the YPG and ultimately side with Turkey was rash and immoral, yet fundamentally inevitable.
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…
The US Mission Tied to Syrian Oil Fields May Prove the Worst of All Strategic Options
"What seems like a well-intentioned effort to mitigate a mess of Trump’s own making ultimately could make matters worse."
National Security at the United Nations This Week
Editor’s Note: This is the latest in Just Security’s weekly series keeping readers up to date on developments at the United Nations at the intersection of national security,…
Assessing Turkey’s “Resettlement” Plans in Syria under the Law of Occupation
Turkey's "resettlement plan" for northern Syria - involving the transfer of at least 1 million refugees to the area within Syria it intends to control - is unlawful under the international…
“With a Little Help from Our Friends”: Prosecuting the ISIL “Beatles” in U.S. Courts
Civilian prosecution in U.S. courts remains by far the best option for reliably bringing the two ISIL detainees in U.S. custody to justice. The DoJ should look closely at whether…
Turkey’s (Latest) Invasion of Syria: Aggression, Proportionality, and Legal Consequences for NATO and Third-Party States
"All States are legally required to cooperate to bring any serious breach of a peremptory norm to an end by lawful means. Conversely, States are legally prohibited from helping…
Turkey’s Actions Trigger All States’ Obligations to Prosecute War Crimes by Turkish Forces
Activating the global system of criminal enforcement for war crimes prosecutions
Can Turkey be Expelled from NATO? It’s Legally Possible, Whether or Not Politically Prudent
Overall, the absence of a suspension and expulsion mechanism in the North Atlantic Treaty does not prevent the North Atlantic Council from suspending or terminating the membership…
National Security at the United Nations This Week
An emergency Security Council meeting on Turkey's offensive in Syria, another peacekeeper casualty in Mali, the UN's cash crisis, and more.
Returning Foreign Fighters and Their Families Takes on New Urgency After Trump’s Syria Decision
As countries contemplate what appears to be the potential for an abrupt and unruly dismantling of the SDF camps in Syria, and the likely security, ethical and moral dilemmas that…
U.S.-Turkey “Safe Zone” Likely to Add Fuel to Syria Conflict
"While there is a significant risk that a new arrangement will further destabilize this highly volatile region and threaten the security of millions of civilians, there is also…