Syria

For all the sound principles laid out in Vienna, future talks cannot evade the timeline and mechanism of a transition in Syria, and Russia needs to prove its goodwill on the ground.

The solidarity expressed at the latest regional gathering of senior U.S., European, and Middle Eastern defense officials, diplomats, journalists, and analysts was encouraging, though some aspects of Washington's policies in Syria and elsewhere still need clarification.

New Russian airstrikes in the south could portend a wider regime, Hezbollah, and Iranian ground campaign there, potentially violating Israel's Golan redline and exacerbating Jordan's refugee problems.

A German diplomat and a former Syrian official join two American experts to discuss how various parties are handling the ongoing mass refugee flow, and what more they can do to address the cause of the problem, not just its symptoms.

Without stronger American military efforts to hurt ISIS and help the rebels, the Vienna summit has little chance of preventing Moscow from taking the driver's seat in Syria.

In this interview with the French newspaper L'Opinion, Washington Institute fellow Fabrice Balanche discusses the status of Syrian refugees inside and outside the country, as well as the Russian intervention and other recent developments. Download the PDF to read the full interview in French, or visit the L'Opinion website.

A safe haven along Syria's border with Turkey could involve several partners and send a clear message to Russia and Iran.

The Kurdish forces fielded by the YPG remain at the vanguard of the anti-ISIS fight in Syria, so providing them with GPS technology, faster airstrike coordination, and other assistance would greatly further U.S. interests.

Israel may feel abandoned by Washington, but Moscow is not the antidote.