Frederic C. Hof is director of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East.   https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/contributor/frederic-c-hof/rss en Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs ISIS Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:02:47 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/08/18/washington-makes-room-for-rivals-in-eastern-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/08/18/washington-makes-room-for-rivals-in-eastern-syria The U.S. government should focus on post-ISIS stabilization in the east of the country if it hopes to block widening Iranian control, writes the Atlantic Council’s Frederic C. Hof. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Government & Pro-Government Forces Wed, 12 Jul 2017 03:03:15 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/07/12/is-the-latest-cease-fire-in-syria-different https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/07/12/is-the-latest-cease-fire-in-syria-different The recently announced cease-fire in southwestern Syria should not be dismissed as a replica of the 2016 internationally-brokered pause in fighting that failed, according to the Atlantic Council’s Frederic C. Hof. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Fri, 12 May 2017 11:23:09 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/05/12/outcome-of-u-s-arming-the-ypg-depends-on-luck-hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/05/12/outcome-of-u-s-arming-the-ypg-depends-on-luck-hof Atlantic Council’s Frederic C. Hof argues that President Trump’s decision to arm the Syrian Kurds ruled out the employment of Turkish forces on the ground, which could have defeated ISIS rapidly and sufficiently. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Fri, 21 Apr 2017 13:14:56 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/21/thinking-strategically-about-u-s-policy-on-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/21/thinking-strategically-about-u-s-policy-on-syria President Donald Trump’s administration has reached a crossroad when it comes to its policy in Syria and they may have an appetite for objectives-based strategy for the war-torn country, writes former ambassador Frederic C. Hof. Government & Pro-Government Forces Fri, 07 Apr 2017 09:20:27 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/07/this-may-signal-that-the-free-ride-for-mass-murder-is-over https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/07/this-may-signal-that-the-free-ride-for-mass-murder-is-over The U.S. strike on Shayrat air base is an appropriate response to mass homicide by Assad’s regime, writes Frederic C. Hof. It was from Shayrat that aircraft took off to drop chemical munitions on Khan Sheikhoun on April 4, killing civilians, including children. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:26:06 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/03/how-obama-and-trump-have-similar-policies-on-assads-future https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/04/03/how-obama-and-trump-have-similar-policies-on-assads-future Recent statements from President Donald Trump’s administration on the U.S. policy toward Assad have not signaled a shift from Obama’s policy regarding the Syrian president, writes former ambassador Frederic C. Hof. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Mon, 27 Mar 2017 11:08:44 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/03/27/the-case-for-deploying-american-ground-forces-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/03/27/the-case-for-deploying-american-ground-forces-in-syria As the U.S.-led SDF forces advance towards Raqqa, the de facto capital of the so-called Islamic State, former ambassador Frederic C. Hof explains the three options for accelerating the fight against ISIS by deploying U.S. ground troops to Syria. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs ISIS Fri, 17 Feb 2017 11:54:32 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/02/17/defeating-terror-in-syria-a-new-way-forward https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/02/17/defeating-terror-in-syria-a-new-way-forward On February 14, Ambassador Frederic C. Hof spoke before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, in Washington, D.C., at a hearing titled ‘Defeating Terrorism in Syria: a New Way Forward.’ Here is a transcript of his statement. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Wed, 04 Jan 2017 11:37:55 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/01/04/defeating-isis-should-top-the-list-of-trumps-syrian-policies https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2017/01/04/defeating-isis-should-top-the-list-of-trumps-syrian-policies Former U.S. special advisor on transition in Syria Frederic C. Hof outlines the essential issues on Syria that should be a priority for officials advising President-elect Donald Trump once he is inaugurated. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Tue, 20 Dec 2016 14:37:05 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/12/20/the-failure-of-obamas-on-the-cheap-policy-for-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/12/20/the-failure-of-obamas-on-the-cheap-policy-for-syria Former U.S. special advisor on transition in Syria, Frederic C. Hof, explains how Obama’s decision that it would have been impossible to intervene in Syria “on the cheap” resulted in the American failure to protect Syrian civilians. Fri, 09 Dec 2016 11:16:48 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/12/09/the-white-house-has-washed-its-hands-of-the-aleppo-cease-fire https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/12/09/the-white-house-has-washed-its-hands-of-the-aleppo-cease-fire As the destruction in Aleppo continues, the Atlantic Council’s Frederic C. Hof argues that the White House is both unable and unwilling to facilitate the implementation of cease-fire negotiations but has put the blame on the Syrian opposition. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs War Economy Mon, 28 Nov 2016 10:09:19 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/11/28/moscow-washington-and-the-wreckage-of-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/11/28/moscow-washington-and-the-wreckage-of-syria Though Russia and the U.S. tout opposing narratives on Syria, both their policies resulted in the ongoing destruction in that country. Eventually, however, someone will have to shoulder the cost of rebuilding, writes Middle East expert Frederic C. Hof. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Government & Pro-Government Forces Mon, 26 Sep 2016 10:31:05 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/09/26/the-high-cost-of-taking-russia-at-its-word-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/09/26/the-high-cost-of-taking-russia-at-its-word-in-syria Devastating violence in Aleppo is the price to pay for the U.S. striking a deal with Russia based almost entirely on trust, writes Middle East expert Frederic C. Hof. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Government & Pro-Government Forces Tue, 30 Aug 2016 08:08:54 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/08/30/a-dubious-defense-of-a-mistaken-policy-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/08/30/a-dubious-defense-of-a-mistaken-policy-in-syria As the Syria conflict continues, the White House administration is finding it increasingly difficult to justify the policies behind its actions in the war-torn country, explains Middle East expert Frederic C. Hof. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Government & Pro-Government Forces Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:52:08 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/08/15/battle-for-aleppo-the-good-news-and-the-bad https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/08/15/battle-for-aleppo-the-good-news-and-the-bad Fighting continues in the divided city of Aleppo, where some 2 million people are at risk of coming under siege. Frederic C. Hof explains the consequences of the ongoing conflict in Syria’s largest city. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Government & Pro-Government Forces Tue, 05 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/04/05/assad-in-complete-defiance-of-peace-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/04/05/assad-in-complete-defiance-of-peace-in-syria It seems there is little left to compel President Bashar al-Assad to comply with the U.N.-led peace process in Geneva, writes Frederic C. Hof. The embattled Syrian leader has flat out rejected the idea of a transitional body, and has used the recess in negotiations to resume bombing civilians. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Fri, 01 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/04/01/killing-the-islamic-state-group-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/04/01/killing-the-islamic-state-group-in-syria “To date the Obama administration’s idea of Syrians fighting ISIS out of love of country has centered on the Syrian Army and nationalist rebels eventually linking arms and marching eastward after Bashar al-Assad has obligingly retired … ” writes Frederic C. Hof. “It is a nice image, but when exactly is this supposed to happen?”. Mon, 28 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/03/28/in-syria-maybe-the-bridge-is-best-after-all https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/03/28/in-syria-maybe-the-bridge-is-best-after-all When it comes to Washington’s strategy in Syria, the shaky truce and the ongoing peace talks in Geneva, the best we can hope for is a “process-without-end,” writes Frederic C. Hof, and one that will allow Obama to hand off a “semi-contained Syrian crisis” to his successor when he leaves office. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/03/14/can-negotiations-end-the-conflict-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/03/14/can-negotiations-end-the-conflict-in-syria For the resumed peace talks in Geneva to have any chance of success, the United States must realize that diplomatic solutions cannot be realized independent of the military realities on the ground, writes Frederic Hof, former U.S. special advisor for transition in Syria. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Government & Pro-Government Forces Wed, 10 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Frederic C. Hof https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/02/10/the-consequences-of-russian-free-reign-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/community/2016/02/10/the-consequences-of-russian-free-reign-in-syria Russian president Vladimir Putin has duped the west, writes Fredric Hof, using a military solution to fix the only aspect of the Syrian crisis he deems worth solving: the preservation of Bashar al-Assad’s rule in at least part of the country. But Russian free reign in Syria has global consequences.