Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social
Blumenstein-Rosenbloom Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute; Teach at Georgetown; PhD from War Studies at KCL; All views mine.
New Publication: Caught in the Crossfire: Islamic State Detention Sites at Risk
www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
Caught in the Crossfire: Islamic State Detention Sites at Risk
With rival forces openly warring in northeast Syria, the long-deferred challenges of identifying, securing, and repatriating IS detainees have come to a head, forcing Washington to prioritize several ...
www.washingtoninstitute.org
January 22, 2026 at 5:06 PM
New Publication: Caught in the Crossfire: Islamic State Detention Sites at Risk
www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
For those that follow the D-ISIS mission, the quarterly Lead Inspector General reports to Congress for Operation Inherent Resolve are vital. In 2025, no report was released for the third quarter. In the past, the latest a Q3 report was released was Nov 19 (and that was in 2019).
January 14, 2026 at 3:39 PM
For those that follow the D-ISIS mission, the quarterly Lead Inspector General reports to Congress for Operation Inherent Resolve are vital. In 2025, no report was released for the third quarter. In the past, the latest a Q3 report was released was Nov 19 (and that was in 2019).
Reposted by Devorah Margolin
📺Must-watch webcast on Thursday, December 4 at 12pm ET as Amb. James Jeffrey and @azelin.bsky.social examine the state of play in Syria one year after the fall of the Assad regime. @devorahmargolin.bsky.social will moderate the event.
The New Syria, Year Two: Rebuilding Institutions and Governance
Join us for an expert conversation examining the state of play in Syria one year after the fall of the Assad regime in 2024. Watch a live webcast of this event starting at 12:00 noon EST (1700 GMT) on...
www.washingtoninstitute.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:15 PM
📺Must-watch webcast on Thursday, December 4 at 12pm ET as Amb. James Jeffrey and @azelin.bsky.social examine the state of play in Syria one year after the fall of the Assad regime. @devorahmargolin.bsky.social will moderate the event.
Should Syria grant citizenship to foreign fighters? For @washinstitute.bsky.social I discuss how any proposal for granting citizenship must addresses complexities (external security threats, Syria’s stability, & the post-Assad accountability process). www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
Syrian Citizenship for Foreign Fighters? U.S. Red Lines and Nuances
Any proposal for granting citizenship to such fighters must be careful, clear, and firm in how it addresses various complexities, including international concerns about external security threats, Syri...
www.washingtoninstitute.org
September 3, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Should Syria grant citizenship to foreign fighters? For @washinstitute.bsky.social I discuss how any proposal for granting citizenship must addresses complexities (external security threats, Syria’s stability, & the post-Assad accountability process). www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
Reposted by Devorah Margolin
Syria today is drastically different than it has been in the past.
In a video published in March, @devorahmargolin.bsky.social explains the dangers and opportunities in breaking down the detention camps like al-Hol and returning detainees to their homes. Transcript is now available:
In a video published in March, @devorahmargolin.bsky.social explains the dangers and opportunities in breaking down the detention camps like al-Hol and returning detainees to their homes. Transcript is now available:
Hope for al-Hol? The Syria Breakdown, Episode Six
Does Syria's transition away from Assad regime tyranny offer hope for closing detention camps, which have been home to thousands of internally displaced persons and Islamic State supporters?
www.washingtoninstitute.org
August 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Syria today is drastically different than it has been in the past.
In a video published in March, @devorahmargolin.bsky.social explains the dangers and opportunities in breaking down the detention camps like al-Hol and returning detainees to their homes. Transcript is now available:
In a video published in March, @devorahmargolin.bsky.social explains the dangers and opportunities in breaking down the detention camps like al-Hol and returning detainees to their homes. Transcript is now available:
Reposted by Devorah Margolin
Foreign fighters who remain in Syria can be categorized in three large groups. Any proposal for granting citizenship to such fighters must be crystal clear on the red lines and plans for this process, writes @devorahmargolin.bsky.social.
Syrian Citizenship for Foreign Fighters? U.S. Red Lines and Nuances
Any proposal for granting citizenship to such fighters must be careful, clear, and firm in how it addresses various complexities, including international concerns about external security threats, Syri...
www.washingtoninstitute.org
August 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Foreign fighters who remain in Syria can be categorized in three large groups. Any proposal for granting citizenship to such fighters must be crystal clear on the red lines and plans for this process, writes @devorahmargolin.bsky.social.
NEW: The first US repatriation from NE Syria since May 2024 (now the US has repatriated 52 citizens since 2019) www.state.gov/releases/off...
Repatriation of Unaccompanied U.S. Citizen Minor from Northeast Syria - United States Department of State
Last week the United States repatriated a U.S. citizen minor from a displaced persons camp in northeast Syria for unification with the child’s family. We thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U....
www.state.gov
July 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
NEW: The first US repatriation from NE Syria since May 2024 (now the US has repatriated 52 citizens since 2019) www.state.gov/releases/off...
Anti-ISIS Mission: Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve transfers command to Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Lambert www.inherentresolve.mil/NEWSROOM/New...
www.inherentresolve.mil
July 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Anti-ISIS Mission: Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve transfers command to Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Lambert www.inherentresolve.mil/NEWSROOM/New...
Reuters: "US envoy urges Syria's Sharaa to revise policy or risk fragmentation" www.reuters.com/world/middle...
US envoy urges Syria's Sharaa to revise policy or risk fragmentation
A U.S. envoy has urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recalibrate his policies and embrace a more inclusive approach after a new round of sectarian bloodshed last week, or risk losing international support and fragmenting the country.
www.reuters.com
July 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reuters: "US envoy urges Syria's Sharaa to revise policy or risk fragmentation" www.reuters.com/world/middle...
"Montreal woman who joined ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group" www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Montreal woman who joined ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group | CBC News
Oumaima Chouay, who fled her home in Montreal nearly a decade ago to join ISIS in Syria, is the first person in Canada convicted for providing family support to a terrorist entity as a spouse.
www.cbc.ca
July 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
"Montreal woman who joined ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group" www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Hamas at a Crossroads by Ehud Yaari
jstribune.com/yaari-hamas-...
jstribune.com/yaari-hamas-...
Hamas at a Crossroads – The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune
Essays – Today’s Hamas is a very different organization from the one we knew from its formal establishment in December 1987 through its surprise attack on Israel
jstribune.com
July 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Hamas at a Crossroads by Ehud Yaari
jstribune.com/yaari-hamas-...
jstribune.com/yaari-hamas-...
Conceding America's soft power, this is going to have devastating consequences - NYT: "Senate Approves Trump’s Bid to Cancel Foreign Aid and Public Broadcast Funds" www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/u...
Senate Approves Trump’s Bid to Cancel Foreign Aid and Public Broadcast Funds
www.nytimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Conceding America's soft power, this is going to have devastating consequences - NYT: "Senate Approves Trump’s Bid to Cancel Foreign Aid and Public Broadcast Funds" www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/u...
Barrack “So there’s a big sentiment that because [SDF] were our partners, we owe them. The question is what do we owe them. We don’t owe them the ability to have their own independent government within a government.” www.state.gov/briefings-fo...
Strengthening U.S.-Türkiye Relations and Advancing Relations with Syria - United States Department of State
Downloadable video and photos of this briefing for use in reporting can be found here: Video- https://vimeo.com/1100727185 Photos- https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCmey2 NEW YORK FOREIGN PRESS CENTER, 799 UN...
www.state.gov
July 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Barrack “So there’s a big sentiment that because [SDF] were our partners, we owe them. The question is what do we owe them. We don’t owe them the ability to have their own independent government within a government.” www.state.gov/briefings-fo...
Important as US funding for these programs winds down: "Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service and the Ministry of Migration and Displacement signed a cooperation agreement to coordinate the rehabilitation and reintegration of citizens returning from displacement camps in Syria" shafaq.com/en/Security/...
Iraq signs reintegration pact for returnees from Syria - Shafaq News
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Friday, Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service
(CTS) and the Ministry of Migration and Displacement signed a cooperation
agreement to coordinate the rehabilitation and reintegrat
shafaq.com
July 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Important as US funding for these programs winds down: "Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service and the Ministry of Migration and Displacement signed a cooperation agreement to coordinate the rehabilitation and reintegration of citizens returning from displacement camps in Syria" shafaq.com/en/Security/...
Reposted by Devorah Margolin
Tune in on Thursday at 3pm ET for a conversation with Rime Allaf, Ehud Yaari, @azelin.bsky.social, Andrew Tabler on the prospects of cooperation between Israel and the new Syrian government. @devorahmargolin.bsky.social will moderate.
Pursuing Israel-Syria Detente Post-Assad
Join us for an expert conversation examining the prospects of cooperation between Israel and the new Syrian government. Watch live starting at 3:00 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
www.washingtoninstitute.org
July 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Tune in on Thursday at 3pm ET for a conversation with Rime Allaf, Ehud Yaari, @azelin.bsky.social, Andrew Tabler on the prospects of cooperation between Israel and the new Syrian government. @devorahmargolin.bsky.social will moderate.
SDF continues to arrest male "ISIS leaders" in al-Hol camp, which primarily holds women and minors: hawarnews.com/en/syrian-de...
Syrian Democratic Forces arrest two ISIS leaders in al-Hol camp
The Syrian Democratic Forces announced that they had carried out a security operation in al-Hol camp, resulting in the arrest of two leaders of ISIS mercenary cells.
hawarnews.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
SDF continues to arrest male "ISIS leaders" in al-Hol camp, which primarily holds women and minors: hawarnews.com/en/syrian-de...
AP: "Syria’s government and Kurds still at odds over merging forces after latest talks, US envoy says" apnews.com/article/syri...
Syria’s government and Kurds still at odds over merging forces after latest talks, US envoy says
A U.S. envoy says that Syria’s central government and the Kurds remain at odds over plans on merging their forces after the latest round of talks. U.S.
apnews.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
AP: "Syria’s government and Kurds still at odds over merging forces after latest talks, US envoy says" apnews.com/article/syri...
"SDF leader, Syria’s al-Sharaa meet in presence of US envoy" english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-...
SDF leader, Syria’s al-Sharaa meet in presence of US envoy
A Kurdish military commander met with Syria’s leader in Damascus on Wednesday in the presence of a US envoy to discuss stalled efforts to integrate the
english.alarabiya.net
July 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM
"SDF leader, Syria’s al-Sharaa meet in presence of US envoy" english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-...
“Deal reached for twice-monthly return of Iraqi families from al-Hol camp”
shafaq.com/en/Security/...
shafaq.com/en/Security/...
Deal reached for twice-monthly return of Iraqi families from al-Hol camp - Shafaq News
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Damascus
Iraq and the Kurdish-run autonomous administration in
northeast Syria have agreed to resume the return for Iraqis at al-Hol
camp, scheduling two voluntary trips each mo
shafaq.com
July 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM
“Deal reached for twice-monthly return of Iraqi families from al-Hol camp”
shafaq.com/en/Security/...
shafaq.com/en/Security/...
New piece with Noam Raydan for @washinstitute.bsky.social "Redefining and Strengthening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship Through Energy and Security" www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
Redefining and Strengthening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship Through Energy and Security
Iraq is more stable than it has been in decades but still faces enormous security and energy challenges, including the risk of spillover from Iran-Israel hostilities, dependence on unreliable Iranian ...
www.washingtoninstitute.org
June 27, 2025 at 7:51 PM
New piece with Noam Raydan for @washinstitute.bsky.social "Redefining and Strengthening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship Through Energy and Security" www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...
"Yazidi young man rescued 11 years after ISIS captivity" - 'As of now, nearly 2,600 Yazidis remain missing, according to the Office of Rescuing Abducted Yazidis' www.rudaw.net/english/midd...
www.rudaw.net
June 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
"Yazidi young man rescued 11 years after ISIS captivity" - 'As of now, nearly 2,600 Yazidis remain missing, according to the Office of Rescuing Abducted Yazidis' www.rudaw.net/english/midd...
Reposted by Devorah Margolin
Is the Islamic Republic Starting to Crack? The Signs to Watch www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy... @hdagres.bsky.social @washinstitute.bsky.social
Is the Islamic Republic Starting to Crack? The Signs to Watch
Although the crisis has not yet checked all the boxes that would signal fatal regime vulnerability, the situation could change quickly due to shifting conditions on the battlefield, on the streets, or...
www.washingtoninstitute.org
June 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Is the Islamic Republic Starting to Crack? The Signs to Watch www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy... @hdagres.bsky.social @washinstitute.bsky.social
"Ansar al-Sunna" claims responsibility for St. Elias Church bombing, threatens more www.hawarnews.com/en/ansar-al-...
"Ansar al-Sunna" claims responsibility for St. Elias Church bombing, threatens more - ANHA
The "Saraya Ansar al-Sunna" group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that took place inside the St. Elias Church in Damascus, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of dozens.
www.hawarnews.com
June 24, 2025 at 2:44 PM
"Ansar al-Sunna" claims responsibility for St. Elias Church bombing, threatens more www.hawarnews.com/en/ansar-al-...
Syrian Kurds deny plans to transfer ISIS camp control to Damascus www.rudaw.net/english/midd...
www.rudaw.net
June 23, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Syrian Kurds deny plans to transfer ISIS camp control to Damascus www.rudaw.net/english/midd...
Approximately 1,000 Iraqis depart from al-Hol Camp, are repatriated back to Iraq: hawarnews.com/en/about-100...
About 1,000 Iraqis depart from al-Hol Camp, going back to their country
Yesterday, 239 Iraqi families consisting of 944 individuals left al-Hol Camp in Hasakah countryside and went back to Iraqi soil.
hawarnews.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Approximately 1,000 Iraqis depart from al-Hol Camp, are repatriated back to Iraq: hawarnews.com/en/about-100...