Dareen Khalifa Senior Analyst, Syria Istanbul, Turkey Please submit all media inquiries to media@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role Dareen Khalifa is a Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group working on security, conflict, politics, and governance in Syria. Professional Background Dareen has 13 years of experience working on the Middle East, with a particular focus on sub-state armed group dynamics, local governance, and civil society. She has worked on the Syria conflict in a number of roles since 2013, most recently with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), regularly traveling to Iraq and Syria to engage with various civilian and armed actors on initiatives to mitigate conflict. Dareen has an MA in Human Rights and Public Policy from University College London. Area of Expertise Sub-state armed group dynamics Local governance Civil society in Syria and the Middle East Selected Publications In addition to publishing numerous research outputs and policy reports for Kings College London, she has also published for the Washington Post among other outlets. Languages Arabic English In The News 5 Oct 2020 The people who have been released [from detention camps in Syria] are struggling to reintegrate, and the economic situation outside is already very bad. The Washington Post Dareen Khalifa Senior Analyst, Syria 31 Aug 2020 The Kurdish leadership has every reason to suspect that Russia will not push Damascus to accept anything that Turkey might interpret as protecting or legitimizing the YPG. Kurdistan24 Dareen Khalifa Senior Analyst, Syria 13 Apr 2020 I don't think Turkey or Russia believe this ceasefire will hold for a long time. It left key issues unresolved. BBC News Dareen Khalifa Senior Analyst, Syria 27 Mar 2020 As the Syrian economy continues to deteriorate and violence escalates, fewer and fewer families will be able to access even the nominally available public care. Vox Dareen Khalifa Senior Analyst, Syria 25 Mar 2020 [The Syrian civilian population] think it’s suicidal to move toward the regime, or at best, it’s unknown. Washington Post Dareen Khalifa Senior Analyst, Syria 17 Mar 2020 These [Turkish and Russian] patrols are meant to be politically symbolic, demonstrating both countries’ ability to cut through rebel-controlled Idlib and secure the highway. Arab News Dareen Khalifa Senior Analyst, Syria Latest Updates Commentary / Middle East & North Africa 3 February 2021 In Syria’s Idlib, Washington’s Chance to Reimagine Counter-terrorism The “terrorist” label affixed to Idlib’s strongest rebel group undermines a crucial ceasefire and blocks potential paths to avert a military showdown. It also reflects a gap in Western policy. Creative ideas from Washington could help break the impasse and set a useful precedent. Also available in العربية Q&A / Europe & Central Asia 29 February 2020 Deadly Clashes in Syria’s Idlib Show Limits of Turkey’s Options A deadly attack on Turkish forces in Syria has brought Idlib’s crisis to a dangerous crossroads. In this Q&A, Crisis Group’s Turkey, Syria and Russia experts explain what happened and what’s at stake. Op-Ed / Middle East & North Africa 18 September 2019 Are There Alternatives to a Military Victory in Idlib? Last weekend, the presidents of Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Ankara to discuss, among other things, the latest developments in Syria amid Turkish concerns over the consequences of a Syrian government offensive in the last rebel enclave, Idlib. Originally published in Valdai