James Jeffrey

Will Biden continue Trump’s transactional Middle East policy?

Some prominent establishment figures think the new US president will follow in the footsteps of the Trump administration.

What Biden’s Syria policy might look like

President-elect Joe Biden's Syria policy could become proactive, but first, they would need to undo the Trump administration's mistakes.

Trump's close aide kept him in the dark about US troop numbers in Syria

James Jeffrey says he has played “shell games” to hide true numbers of American troops in northern Syria, misleading President Donald Trump.

US special envoy for Syria arrives in Turkey for talks

Underlining that the Syrian Constitutional Committee's third round of meetings had begun in Geneva, Jeffrey says "It was a good start, much helped by Turkey's encouragement of all members of the Constitutional Committee, particularly the opposition."

Why is the US inviting the PKK terror group to Syria talks?

Washington’s envoy suggested that the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, should be included in the UN-led Geneva peace talks indicating that the US aims to create an autonomous region in northern Syria.

Is the West shifting towards recognising Bashar al Assad once again?

Recently, the US suggested that Assad does not necessarily have to go. Nonetheless, experts say it is still too early to ascertain whether the West's attitude towards the regime has changed.

US singles out UAE over Assad rapprochement, warns of sanctions

Washington's Syria envoy James Jeffrey delivered its most scathing remarks on the UAE’s cosying up to the Assad regime, clarifying Abu Dhabi would not be exempt from financial measures outlined in the Syria Caesar Act.

An Iranian lawmaker says Syria owes Tehran massive monetary debt

Iranian lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh says Syria should pay Iran for what it has spent on the country’s war.

Erdogan, Trump discuss ways to end crisis in Syria's Idlib

Leaders of Turkey and US agree by phone that Syrian regime attacks on Turkish troops in northwestern Idlib province were unacceptable, Turkish presidency says.

Senior Turkish, US officials discuss Syria situation

Turkey's Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and his US counterpart Mark Esper have met in Brussels where they agreed to take concrete steps in Syria.

What's happening in Idlib?

Syria and Russia's assault on Idlib can trigger a domino effect of humanitarian and political catastrophes.

International crisis looms as 700,000 flee Syria's Idlib - US envoy

Backed by Russian air power, Syrian regime forces have advanced on Idlib at a rapid clip since last week.