What are the perceptions of U.S. engagement in Syria? What should the US policy toward Syria be?
The Hollings Center’s recorded this video at a dialogue conference called Perceptions of U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changing Middle East. The dialogue looked at how perceptions of the region have changed as the United States has shifted its role in the region.
Sahar Atrache joined The Shaikh Group (TSG) in July 2022 to lead the Group’s Syria program; she is based in Istanbul. Prior to joining TSG, Sahar was the senior advocate for the Middle East at Refugees International (RI) in Washington DC, where she covered the region’s political, humanitarian and refugee crises, with particular focus on Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen. Her work was distinguished by a focus on the underlying causes of these crises and strong partnerships with national and local organizations on the frontlines of relief efforts.
Sahar previously served as the senior advocacy officer at the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) in Washington DC. There she led research and advocacy efforts related to Syria policy and humanitarian issues. Prior to SAMS, Sahar was a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group’s Middle East and North Africa Program. Her reports and articles served as the foundation of direct international advocacy and media engagement. Sahar worked for the United Nations in Lebanon between 2007 and 2008. She coordinated post-conflict relief and reconstruction efforts in the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp. She also worked on conflict resolution, socioeconomic development, and governance issues with a number of non-governmental organizations. Sahar holds two post maste’s degrees in political science and in journalism. She speaks Arabic, English, and French.
