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open access

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the recent conflict in Syria including an overview of the situation, information about anti- and pro-Asad forces, background on chemical weapons and disarmament, plans for U.S. policy and assistance, and a general sense of the future outlook.
Date: April 9, 2014
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.; Humud, Carla E. & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
open access

Syria: Issues for the 112th Congress and Background on U.S. Sanctions

Description: This report analyzes bilateral issues between the United States and Syria. Unrest in Syria and the Asad government's violent response are adding new complexity to the troubled U.S.-Syrian relationship. The Obama Administration's policy of limited engagement with Syria to address areas of long-standing concern has been met with criticism from some, including some Members of Congress. Critics believe that the Administration should apply further pressure to the Syrian government and consider impleā€¦ more
Date: April 28, 2011
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
open access

Counting Casualties in Syria and Iraq: Process and Challenges

Description: This report discusses the difficulties of collecting war-related casualty data in Iraq and Syria and provides an overview of some of the current estimated figures available through selected organizations.
Date: April 12, 2016
Creator: Humud, Carla E.; Margesson, Rhoda & Chesser, Susan G.
open access

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the ongoing conflict in Syria and U.S. policy regarding the conflict and potential resolutions. It includes information on the recent U.S., French, and British joint missile strike in response to the the use of chemical weapons in Douma, Syria by Syrian government forces.
Date: April 18, 2018
Creator: Humud, Carla E.; Blanchard, Christopher M. & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
open access

Syria: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report analyzes an array of bilateral issues that continue to affect relations between the United States and Syria. It includes descriptions of recent developments, issues for Congress, U.S.-Syrian relations, U.S. Sanctions, and future prospects related to the role of Congress.
Date: April 26, 2010
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
open access

Syria's Chemical Weapons: Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the history and current state of Syria's chemical and biological weapon programs and possible U.S. government programs that could be used to dismantle stockpiles if the Assad regime were to collapse.
Date: April 30, 2013
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth; Feickert, Andrew & Kerr, Paul K.
open access

Iran-North Korea-Syria Ballistic Missile and Nuclear Cooperation

Description: This report describes the key elements of a nuclear weapons program; explains the available information regarding cooperation among Iran, North Korea, and Syria on ballistic missiles and nuclear technology; and discusses some specific issues for Congress.
Date: April 16, 2014
Creator: Kerr, Paul K.; Nikitin, Mary Beth D. & Hildreth, Steven A.
open access

Islamic State Financing and U.S. Policy Approaches

Description: This report discusses the U.S. policy approaches for countering the financial resources of the Islamic State, which has seized significant territory in Iraq and Syria and threatened to conduct attacks against the United States and its citizens.
Date: April 10, 2015
Creator: Humud, Carla E.; Pirog, Robert & Rosen, Liana
open access

Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues

Description: When civil unrest, violence, or natural disasters erupt in spots around the world, concerns arise over the safety of foreign nationals residing in the United States who are from these troubled places. Provisions exist in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to offer temporary protected status (TPS) or relief from removal under specified circumstances. A foreign national who is granted TPS receives a registration document and an employment authorization for the duration of TPS. The Uniteā€¦ more
Date: April 2, 2012
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen & Ester, Karma
open access

Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights

Description: This report discusses the situation immediately following the completion of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq on December 18, 2011, when relations among major political factions worsened substantially, threatening Iraq's stability and the legacy of the U.S. intervention in Iraq. It includes an overview of historical and current political, military, and governance issues as well as an analysis of Iraq in relation to the other nations in the region.
Date: April 19, 2012
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
open access

European Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Assessments, Responses, and Issues for the United States

Description: This report discusses U.S. and European assessments of and responses to the foreign fighter phenomenon. It focuses on government policies primarily in Western European countries and analyzes EU measures to counter the foreign fighter threat given the EU's largely open internal borders and that 23 EU member states belong to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
Date: April 27, 2015
Creator: Archick, Kristin; Belkin, Paul; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Humud, Carla E. & Mix, Derek E.
open access

Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues

Description: Syria, governed by President Hafiz al-Asad from 1970 until his death in June 2000, is a prominent player in the Middle East scene. Within the region, a number of border disputes, problems of resource allocation, and political rivalries have caused frequent tensions between Syria and its neighbors. In particular, the Syrian Golan Heights territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has been one of the most intractable issues in the Arab-Israeli dispute.
Date: April 26, 2006
Creator: Prados, Alfred B.
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