A Situation Briefing teleconference on the conflict in Syria by Mr. Michael Ratney, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria.

Over the past five and a half years, an estimated 470,000 people have died in the ongoing conflict in Syria. What began as protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad has escalated into one of the most complex international struggles in modern times involving the government, rebel forces, ISIL, Iran, Russia, the United States, and many other key players. The conflict has triggered the world’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. A recent ceasefire agreement between Russia and the United States quickly deteriorated, with both sides blaming the other. On Friday, Syrian rebels launched an offensive to break the siege of Aleppo.

What is going on in Syria today? Is there hope for another ceasefire and is there any end in sight to this complex, catastrophic conflict?

Featuring:

Mr. Michael Ratney, Special Envoy for Syria, U.S. State Department

In July 2015, Michael Ratney was appointed as the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Ratney served as the U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem. Until 2012, Mr. Ratney was Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Media and, prior to that, Spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Read more.

Moderator:

Ms. Joumana Silyan-Saba, Director, Strategies Against Violent Extremism (SAVE), Mayor's Office of Public Safety, City of Los Angeles

Ms. Joumana Silyan-Saba serves as the Director of Strategies Against Violent Extremism (SAVE) in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Public Safety. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Read more.