The decimation of Syria after nearly 12 years of civil war has long since fallen off the public’s radar. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and northern Syria in the early hours of Monday morning has put Syria back on the map, but whether the war-torn country stays there once the initial shock and sympathy wear off is another question.
Joshua Landis, a widely respected Syria expert who heads the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, isn’t optimistic.
“The United States set as one of its goals to hinder serious reconstruction after the war until [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad] makes political concessions — until there’s a political solution,” though it’s unclear what that solution should be, he told Devex.
About the author
Anna Gawel
Anna Gawel is the Managing Editor of Devex. She previously worked as the managing editor of The Washington Diplomat, the flagship publication of D.C.’s diplomatic community. She’s had hundreds of articles published on world affairs, U.S. foreign policy, politics, security, trade, travel and the arts on topics ranging from the impact of State Department budget cuts to Caribbean efforts to fight climate change. She was also a broadcast producer and digital editor at WTOP News and host of the Global 360 podcast. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Maryland in College Park.
