Natasha Hall
@NatashaHallDC
Senior Associate CSIS Geopolitics, former USG, Mayday Rescue, CIVIC, RAND & founder of Art in Exile. Proud Arab American. All views my own.
"the guards at Saydnaya Prison would call the names of the condemned, usually dozens at a time. They wrapped nooses around their necks, then dragged tables from beneath their feet with a scraping that echoed through the building." #Syria reporting @jmalsin wsj.com/world/middle-e…
"you will find it hard to raise good children in an environment that normalizes killing children." -Galia Oz, the daughter of celebrated Israeli author Amos Oz. haaretz.com/opinion/2025-0…
Israel just did this to the Ministry of Defense building in a sovereign country in a bustling capital city. Obviously this is illegal under international law but also how is this good for anyone. Not just statements from the US, we need action.
Israeli madness is in full swing
The Post is now confirming this CNN scoop that a preliminary U.S. intel report found that Trump's strikes likely only set back Iran's programs by months 1/
New: US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early DIA assessment, sources tell @NatashaBertrand @ZcohenCNN and me. cnn.com/2025/06/24/pol…
Over Doha’s skies now. Around 6 missiles launched from Iran. Appears all were intercepted and there might have been advanced warning.
Taken by a very good friend of mine from the pearl five minutes ago
BREAKING - BLAST ROCKS CHURCH IN CENTRAL DAMASCUS — WITNESSES It took place at Mar Elias Church in Dweilaa neighborhood during Sunday prayers.
For regimes everywhere, the lesson they are learning is keep nuclear weapons programs or develop them as fast as they can to survive #Iran #Israel #Ukraine #Libya
BBC confirms for the first time that missing American journalist Austin Tice was imprisoned by the Assad regime. We knew this but it's probably bigger than Tice. Many others were likely taken by different groups & handed to the regime. bbc.com/news/articles/…
Washington allows Syria to merge 1000s of foreign fighters into the new army. @timourazhari A big switch from insisting all foreign fighters leave, which always seemed problematic. Methinks this decision happened after conversations w/ countries that might be taking them.
EXCLUSIVE -- Washington has OK'd Syrian plans to merge 1000s of foreign fighters into the new army. That's according to US Syria envoy Thomas Barrack, who told me @Reuters: "There is an understanding, with transparency," on the issue. Barrack said it was better to keep the…
Talked to @BBCNews on US Ambassador to Turkey’s visit to Damascus, another set of announcements and deals, and the road ahead in Syria
US Syria envoy Barrack calls Kurdish SDF chief Mazloum as Turkey proposes a meeting in Damascus with Mazloum and either Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan or Turkey's intelligence chief @amberinzaman
Excellent piece about what the international community can do to help Syria recover from more than a decade of civil war
My latest with colleague @ninarfawal on the next steps for Syria in @ForeignAffairs. In short, clear the path of spoilers to allow Syria to recover. The announcement of sanctions relief is an incredible first step but it isn't the only one. foreignaffairs.com/syria/can-syri…
Spoke to @kaileyleinz and @JMathieuReports @bloomberg on Iran nuclear talks and Syria's future. It's about the new red line: uranium enrichment. And if the Iranians can convince him that he's getting a better deal than the JCPOA & override Israel. bloomberg.com/news/videos/20…
DOHA, May 28 (Reuters) - The Syrian government is set to sign deal on Thursday with four companies to expand its electrical grid by 5,000 megawatts through the development of gas turbines and solar plants, according to a company media invitation. The agreement launching the…
My latest with colleague @ninarfawal on the next steps for Syria in @ForeignAffairs. In short, clear the path of spoilers to allow Syria to recover. The announcement of sanctions relief is an incredible first step but it isn't the only one. foreignaffairs.com/syria/can-syri…
Syria Sanctions NEW: GL 25 to suspend sanctions and waiver issued for Caesar Terrorism designations and individual sanctions still in play #Syria home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
Interested in #Syria? I'll be speaking online alongside @WaelAlzayat & @NatashaHallDC *tomorrow* at 12pm ET. RSVP here: secure.everyaction.com/3PR2kJfjAkWycr…
NEW - Syria signs $800m MOU with Dubai Ports to develop Tartous port — state media
.@SecRubio says @POTUS will use waivers included in the CAESAR Act to lift initial sanctions, but will work toward the repeal of CEASAR Act
My thoughts on the day Trump announced the cessation of sanctions in Syria, what this means, and what needs to come next. @BBC