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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.

274 Posts538 Follower147 Folgt
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · 3w ago

This week, Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will visit Washington. Zaidi’s trip is a vital opportunity to make sure Baghdad has the assistance it needs to keep IS from resurging at a time of great turbulence, write @devorahmargolin.bsky.social and Gabriel Wein.

Iraqi Visit Can Help Shape the Future Fight Against the Islamic State

Despite other pressing priorities and the imminent end of the coalition mission, Zaidi’s trip is a vital opportunity to make sure Baghdad has the targeted assistance it needs to keep IS from resurging...

washingtoninstitute.org

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · 3mo ago

A new CTC Sentinel report by @devorahmargolin.bsky.social examines the swift and dramatic changes that have occurred in Syria’s vulnerable network of Islamic State detention sites, and why the international community can't just “move on” from the issue.

The Collapse of Indefinite Detention in Northeast Syria: Implications Seven Years Later for Syria and Beyond

An in-depth look at the swift and dramatic changes that have occurred in Syria’s vulnerable network of Islamic State detention sites, and why the international community can't just “move on” from the ...

washingtoninstitute.org

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · 4w ago

Next week, Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s will visit Washington. Officials should use the visit as an opportunity to address the IS threat and shape the next phase of the counter-IS fight, write @devorahmargolin.bsky.social and Gabriel Wein.

Iraqi Visit Can Help Shape the Future Fight Against the Islamic State

Despite other pressing priorities and the imminent end of the coalition mission, Zaidi’s trip is a vital opportunity to make sure Baghdad has the targeted assistance it needs to keep IS from resurging...

washingtoninstitute.org

Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Excited to share a new piece I have out in the CTC Sentinel looking at the collapse of the indefinite detention system in Northeast Syria that held Islamic State fighters and their families, and implications seven years later for Syria and beyond: ctc.westpoint.edu/the-collapse...

The Collapse of Indefinite Detention in Northeast Syria: Implications Seven Years Later for Syria and Beyond - Combating Terrorism Center at West Point

Abstract: In early 2026, almost seven years after it began, the indefinite detention of tens of thousands of Islamic State affiliates and their families in northeast Syria ended in chaos after a massi...

ctc.westpoint.edu

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · 5mo ago

More than 20,000 IS-affiliated individuals are unaccounted for, and no one has a plan for what to do about this mix of committed radicals, at-risk victims, and other escapees, write @devorahmargolin.bsky.social and Joana Cook in @foreignpolicy.com.

From SNAFU to FUBAR in Northeast Syria

Some 20,000 Islamic State-affiliated individuals are now unaccounted for, and no one has a plan for what to do about this mix of committed radicals, at-risk victims, and other escapees.

washingtoninstitute.org

Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social · 7mo ago

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).

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · 8mo ago

📺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...

washingtoninstitute.org

Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social · 11mo ago

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...

washingtoninstitute.org

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · 12mo ago

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:

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?

washingtoninstitute.org

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · 11mo ago

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...

washingtoninstitute.org

Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social · last yr.

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....

state.gov

Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social · last yr.

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...

state.gov

Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social · last yr.

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

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy@washinstitute.bsky.social · last yr.

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.

washingtoninstitute.org

Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social · last yr.

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 ...

washingtoninstitute.org