Devorah Margolin

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.

544 followers147 following274 posts

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

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.

washingtoninstitute.orgIraqi Visit Can Help Shape the Future Fight Against the Islamic StateDespite 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...

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

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.

washingtoninstitute.orgThe Collapse of Indefinite Detention in Northeast Syria: Implications Seven Years Later for Syria and BeyondAn 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 ...

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

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.

washingtoninstitute.orgIraqi Visit Can Help Shape the Future Fight Against the Islamic StateDespite 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...
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

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...

ctc.westpoint.eduThe Collapse of Indefinite Detention in Northeast Syria: Implications Seven Years Later for Syria and Beyond - Combating Terrorism Center at West PointAbstract: 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...

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

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.

washingtoninstitute.orgFrom SNAFU to FUBAR in Northeast SyriaSome 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.
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

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).

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

📺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.

washingtoninstitute.orgThe New Syria, Year Two: Rebuilding Institutions and GovernanceJoin 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...
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

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...

washingtoninstitute.orgSyrian Citizenship for Foreign Fighters? U.S. Red Lines and NuancesAny 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...

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

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:

washingtoninstitute.orgHope for al-Hol? The Syria Breakdown, Episode SixDoes 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?

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

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.

washingtoninstitute.orgSyrian Citizenship for Foreign Fighters? U.S. Red Lines and NuancesAny 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...
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

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...

state.govRepatriation of Unaccompanied U.S. Citizen Minor from Northeast Syria   - United States Department of StateLast 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....
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

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...

state.govStrengthening U.S.-Türkiye Relations and Advancing Relations with Syria - United States Department of StateDownloadable 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...
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

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/...

shafaq.comIraq signs reintegration pact for returnees from Syria - Shafaq NewsShafaq 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

Devorah Margolin reposted

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

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.

washingtoninstitute.orgPursuing Israel-Syria Detente Post-AssadJoin 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.
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

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...

washingtoninstitute.orgRedefining and Strengthening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship Through Energy and SecurityIraq 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 ...

Devorah Margolin reposted

Matthew Levitt
@mattlevitt.bsky.social

Is the Islamic Republic Starting to Crack? The Signs to Watch www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy... @hdagres.bsky.social @washinstitute.bsky.social

washingtoninstitute.orgIs the Islamic Republic Starting to Crack? The Signs to WatchAlthough the crisis has not yet checked all the boxes that would signal fatal regime vulnerability, the situation could change quickly due to shifting conditions on the battlefield, on the streets, or...
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

If you want to learn more about joining this first cohort of students, check out: publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/master-middl...

publicpolicy.pepperdine.eduMaster of Middle East Policy Studies | Earn a Master of Middle East Policy Studies (MMEPS) from Pepperdine University and The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, America’s leading policy resear...The Pepperdine Master of Middle East Policy Studies (MMEPS) is a two-year program located in Washington, DC, designed to equip the early-career professional for success in diplomacy, intelligence, res...
Devorah Margolin@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

WSJ: A New Hope for Middle Eastern Studies Pepperdine (@pepperdine.bsky.social) and the Washington Institute (@washinstitute.bsky.social) try to salvage the field. www.wsj.com/opinion/pepp...

wsj.comOpinion | A New Hope for Middle Eastern StudiesPepperdine and the Washington Institute try to salvage the field.
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

CENTCOM's Gen Kurilla today: "the intelligence community continues to assess IS in Syria – exploiting the turmoil caused first by the Syrian Civil War and now the post-Assad environment – retains the ability to regenerate their fighting force and seize territorial control within 2 years."

Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

Agreement will legitimize US military presence in Syria with approval of Damascus, but US forces will withdraw from all bases in northeastern Syria (incl. Deir Ezzor, Raqqa & Hasakah). US will maintain al-Tanf base located between Syria, Jordan & Iraq. www.newarab.com/news/us-form...

newarab.comUS to formalise military presence in Syria with new dealA high-level US delegation will travel to Syria imminently to formalise and legalise the American military presence in the country.
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

The US has shouldered bulk of the military & financial responsibility for the counter-IS mission, yet the mission today is not limited to kinetic counter-terrorism alone; it seeks to combat the “IS at large,” “IS in detention,” &“IS the next generation.” www.lawfaremedia.org/article/u.s....

lawfaremedia.orgU.S. Funding Cuts Risk Jeopardizing Counter-Islamic State OperationsThe administration claims it is prioritizing efforts to combat the organization, but funding cuts threaten to undermine vital operations.
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

The deprioritization of countering the next Islamic State generation, while cost-saving in the short term, will be detrimental in the long term—affecting the stability of Syria and posing far-reaching consequences for repatriation and reintegration of detained individuals.

Devorah Margolin reposted

Lawfare
@lawfaremedia.org

The foreign aid freeze implemented by the Trump administration has jeopardized efforts to combat terrorism, as funding for detention camps that hold thousands of Islamic State-affiliated families is now at risk, writes ‪@devorahmargolin.bsky.social‬.

lawfaremedia.orgU.S. Funding Cuts Risk Jeopardizing Counter-Islamic State OperationsThe administration claims it is prioritizing efforts to combat the organization, but funding cuts threaten to undermine vital operations.
Devorah Margolin
@devorahmargolin.bsky.social

New for @lawfaremedia.org "U.S. Funding Cuts Risk Jeopardizing Counter-Islamic State Operations: The administration claims it is prioritizing efforts to combat the organization, but funding cuts threaten to undermine vital operations." www.lawfaremedia.org/article/u.s....

lawfaremedia.orgU.S. Funding Cuts Risk Jeopardizing Counter-Islamic State OperationsThe administration claims it is prioritizing efforts to combat the organization, but funding cuts threaten to undermine vital operations.