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May 2025
Ringing the Alarm Bells: Syria May Be Facing Its Worst Drought in Decades
Rainfall in the first quarter of 2025 was the lowest since 1997, signaling a potential catastrophic drought. The implications for food security, livelihoods, and cholera outbreaks are dire, especially amid declining foreign aid.
May 2025
Signs of Shifting Compositions in Company Registrations
Since the fall of Assad, Syria has registered 97 new companies, primarily small LLCs in non-productive sectors like trade. Foreign participation is increasing, with notable changes in nationality composition.
May 2025
Taxes in Syria, Episode Two: Achieving Social Equity through Direct Taxation
Direct taxes have declined sharply as Syria’s tax base eroded, while regressive fees surged, burdening the poor. Reform is urgent to create a fairer system, broaden revenue, and restore legitimacy in the post-Assad era.
May 2025
Trapped Funds: The Fate of Syrian Deposits in Lebanese Banks
Billions in Syrian assets remain stuck in Lebanon’s collapsed banking system, depriving Syria of crucial reconstruction funds, with no path to recovery in sight.
May 2025
External Contribution: Aaron Zelin, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Islamic State and al-Qaeda remain weakened but not eliminated; Damascus has thwarted several attacks since Assad’s fall. The government’s performance in counterterrorism will shape international engagement and Syria’s security trajectory.
May 2025
Interview: Karam Bechara, General Manager at Shahba Bank (former Byblos Bank Syria)
Syria’s banks are compliant and ready to reconnect internationally, but recovery hinges on lifting sanctions, Central Bank independence, and rebuilding trust with local and foreign stakeholders.
April 2025
Declining Aid in a Time of Rising Needs: Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis
As needs in Syria grow, aid keeps shrinking–a toxic and cyclical double whammy. Adjusted for inflation, we show how actual aid contributions for 2024 are the lowest since the inception of the Brussels Conference. Further still, UN-channeled funds have experienced steeper declines. The outlook for 2025 is equally bleak.
April 2025
Inflation in the Post-Assad Era
Prices are finally falling, driven by customs reforms, the easing of domestic barriers to trade, and currency appreciation. However, when current constraints on liquidity are lifted, this might reverse.
April 2025
Taxes in Syria, Episode One: The Big Picture
This first article in a three-part series charts the evolution of Syria’s tax and fee systems during the conflict to inform ongoing reform efforts.
April 2025
What Do the Compositional Changes Between the Caretaker and Interim Governments Tell Us?
The composition of Syria’s new cabinet signals a shift in tone, with better credentials and broader representation. Yet power remains concentrated in familiar circles.
April 2025
External Contribution: The Alawite Massacres and the Future of Syria
Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, Syrian writer and former political prisoner, The Alawite massacres expose the deep entrenchment of sectarian rule in Syria. Unless the new authorities confront this “genocratic” structure, the cycle of identity-based violence will persist.
April 2025
Interview: Ethan Goldrich, Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Levant and Syria Engagement
Ethan Goldrich reflects on his term and proposes a policy approach toward dealing with Syria.
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