Sirwan Kajjo

Milstein Writing Fellow

Sirwan Kajjo is a journalist and researcher specializing in Kurdish politics, Islamic militancy, and Syrian affairs. He has contributed two book chapters on Syria and the Kurds, published by Indiana University Press and Cambridge University Press. His writings on Syrian and Kurdish issues have appeared in the Middle East Forum, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and other prominent think tanks and publications. Kajjo is also the author of Nothing But Soot, a novel set in Syria. He holds a B.A. in government and international politics from George Mason University.

Articles by this Author
For Years, the Ibrahim Khalil Border Crossing Between Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey Was a Testament to the Region’s Strategic Importance
Al-Sharaa’s Regime Wants to Exploit the Balance of Power, Which Favors Damascus, to Alter the Kurdish Region
Terrorist Groups Are Poised to Exploit the Prevailing Insecurity Across the Region, Especially in Weak States like Syria
Barrack Supports Pragmatic Engagement with Existing Power Structures, Rather than Grassroots Democratic Movements
Hezbollah Has Infiltrated Political and Security Institutions, Making It Difficult for the Government to Assert Control
To Undermine the Kurds, Al-Sharaa Has Sought to Assert Greater Control over Their Political Representation
Strengthening Iraqi Kurdistan’s Defenses Would Help Alleviate Pressure on U.S. Personnel in the Region
Many Kurdish Political Movements View a U.S. Partnership as Aligned with the Goal of Democratic Governance, but It Has Risks
There Is No Longer Any Illusion About the Prospect of a Genuine Democratic Transition in Syria Under Its Islamist Leadership
The Agreement’s Ambiguity Leaves Room for Multiple Interpretations, Which Could Affect Its Implementation
A January 18, 2026, Agreement with the Government Represents a Major Setback for Syrian Kurds and Their Political Aspirations
If the Situation in Aleppo Spirals Out of Control, It Could Trigger Large-Scale Violence in Syria, Further Inflaming Ethnic Tensions
Rather than the Baathist Model Rooted in Arab Nationalism, the Emerging Order Combines Arab Nationalism and Sunni Muslim Supremacy
Now Is the Time for the U.S. to Increase Its Engagement in Integration Talks Between the Syrian Government and Kurdish-Led Syrian Democratic Forces
The Military Lacks Discipline and Is Being Indoctrinated in Ways That Antagonize Critics of Al-Sharaa’s Government
The Party Was the Second-Largest Vote-Getter in Recent Parliamentary Elections, in Which It Courted Non-Kurdish Voters
If Al-Sharaa Were Genuinely Committed to Political Pluralism and Inclusivity, He Would Engage with Syria’s Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawis
A Partnership with the U.S.-Led Coalition Would Give Al-Sharaa Another Means to Consolidate Power and Project Legitimacy at Home and Abroad
If Washington Hoped to Keep Russia at Bay in Syria, That Task Is Becoming Increasingly Difficult
Syria’s President Al-Sharaa Talks of Democracy and Reform but His Government Appears Systemically Opposed to It