WASHINGTON D.C., OCTOBER 28, 2019 – The Syrian American Council is grateful to the U.S. Special Forces whose brave actions Saturday have rid the world of ISIS terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an important milestone that will require further action and oversight. Following this historic event, the Syrian American Council calls for the U.S. government to focus on the root cause of extremism in Syria – Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.

WASHINGTON D.C., OCTOBER 10, 2019 – The Syrian American Council continues to call for and supports efforts to establish a safe zone in northern Syria with the goal of protecting Syrian civilians, including Syrian Arabs, Assyrians, Druze, and Kurds, who are a part of Syria’s multicultural makeup and must not be conflated with the PKK, a designated terrorist organization responsible for ethnic cleansing, targeting of Kurdish and Arab dissidents, and abuse against locals.

One Million Displaced in Idlib, Syria: New Refugee Crisis Imminent as Assad Regime Makes Advances

Syrian American Council calls on administration to ground air force, impose sanctions and designate terrorist organizations

WASHINGTON D.C., August 26, 2019 – Last week, the Assad regime and its allies took control of the town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib province in a brutal offensive. With at least three million civilians currently residing in Idlib, including more than one million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have already fled violence elsewhere, the regime’s gains threaten to send a new wave of refugees across the border.

DHS Approves 18-Month Extension for Syria Temporary Protected Status

Decision Follows Sustained Advocacy by Syrian American Organizations with Congress and Trump Administration

(Washington, D.C. - August 1, 2019) Today the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its decision to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrians for 18 months. This decision allows for around 7,000 Syrians residing in the United States to remain on TPS, and follows sustained advocacy efforts by a coalition of Syrian American organizations and TPS holders across the country engaging with Congress, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the public. 

“As Syrian American organizations, we are reassured by the Administration’s decision to extend TPS, which will allow Syrians to remain safely in the United States. The threat to civilians living in Syriaand those returning is still very real, and we appreciate the Administration listened to our concerns and those of Members of Congress who advocated for Syria TPS. The State Department issued a travel advisory in April of this year stating plainly:  ‘No part of Syria is safe from violence.’ Until that changes, no Syrian should be forced back to a war zone.”

Read the Letter Here

Syrian American Council Calls for Response to Massacres in Idlib

WASHINGTON D.C., July 24, 2019 – The Syrian American Council calls for an urgent response from the Trump administration and international community following an escalating series of Russian-led assaults on civilians in Idlib province of northern Syria. More than 100 civilians were killed and wounded Monday in Russian strikes on civilian residences in Maarat al-Numan town, with a death toll of 39. Similar airstrikes on Urm al-Kubra village Sunday killed 12 civilians and wounded 22. A Russian aerial blitz on Jisr al-Shughur town last Thursday caused almost 90% of remaining town residents to flee toward Turkey. 

Syrian American Council Joins Call for Syria Aid Reform

WASHINGTON D.C., June 20, 2019 – The Syrian American Council commends the recent Human Rights Watch report “Rigging the System: Government Policies Co-Opt Aid and Reconstruction Funding in Syria” and calls for the recommendations in the report – which endorses aid deliveries and reconstruction independent of the Assad regime – to be implemented. Impoverished Syrians on the ground and Syrian American aid organizations working to help them have long observed the Assad regime's cynical manipulation of humanitarian aid. Though the report reveals ugly realities, we call on aid providers to seize this opportunity to recommit to their noble goals of supporting the Syrians most in need.

Premier of Music Video for ‘Man of Peace’ From Award-Winning Documentary ‘Little Gandhi’

WASHINGTON D.C., June 20, 2019 – The Syrian American Council has proudly sponsored U.S. screenings of the award-winning documentary and Syria's first official entry into the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, “Little Gandhi.” These powerful screening and panel discussion events helped spread the inspirational and heart-wrenching story of Syrian peace activist Ghiyath Matar.

Mr. Cuccinelli: America Remains the Safest Harbor for Women, Men and Children Fleeing Violence and Repression in Syria

Coalition Urges New USCIS Acting Director to Extend Protected Status for Syrians

WASHINGTON D.C., June 19, 2019 – Today, a coalition of Syrian American community groups and humanitarian NGOs welcomed former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as acting head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and urged him to redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Syrians who face unprecedented levels of violence and oppression at home.

Syrian American Council Applauds Sanctions on Assad

WASHINGTON D.C., June 13, 2019 – The Syrian American Council applauds the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s decision Tuesday to designate 16 individuals and entities linked to Bashar al-Assad's brutal dictatorship. These new sanctions targeted powerful Syrian businessman Samir Foz, a member of Assad's inner circle who is also a key component in the Assad regime's ongoing sanctions evasion. While such sanctions alone are not sufficient to deter Assad’s crimes, Tuesday's decision is a promising first step toward addressing what President Trump rightly called the “butchery” of civilians in Idlib by the Assad regime.