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Yousif
Elias Yousif
Research Analyst, Conventional Defense Program, Stimson Center
twitter: @EliasDJyousif
email:
eyousif  [at] stimson [dot] org


security assistance | Middle East | harm to civilians - casualties, human rights, development 

Elias Yousif is Research Analyst in the Conventional Defense Program at the Stimson Center. Yousif has substantial experience working on armed conflict research, international security, and civilian protection issues, both in Washington, D.C. and in the Middle East.  Prior to joining the Stimson Center, he was Deputy Director of the Security Assistance Monitor at the Center for International Policy (CIP), where he analyzed the impact of U.S. arms transfer and security assistance programs on international security, U.S. foreign policy, and global human rights practices.

Previously, Yousif was the Campaigns and Research Officer with Crisis Action in Beirut, Lebanon, where he worked on advocacy and policy proposals to improve civilian protection, humanitarian access, and conflict resolution in Syria, Yemen, and South Sudan. He also worked with Crisis Action in Washington, D.C. as a Campaigns and Advocacy Associate, where he worked directly with government officials in Congress, the State Department, and White House on conflict and civilian protection developments in the Middle East and North Africa.
  
Yousif has been featured as an opinion contributor on Middle East and arms control issues in media outlets including Newsweek, The Hill, Defense One, InkStick Media, and Responsible Statecraft. Yousif graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2013 from American University’s School of International Service with a B.A. in International Studies and has studied Arabic at the American University of Beirut.
Recent publications:
  • "Over Promising and Under Delivering on Arms Transfer Policies" in "Hits & Strikes From Biden’s First Two Years," The Stimson Center, January 23, 2023. *
  • "A US Plan to Prevent Arms Diversion in Ukraine is Welcome But Just the First Step," Stimson Center, November 10, 2022.
  • "The Dilemma of Depending on Allies," in Stimson Center's "Experts React: The Biden Administration’s National Defense Strategy," November 2, 2022.
  • "The Dilemma of Depending on Allies," in Stimson Center's "Experts React: The Biden Administration’s National Defense Strategy," November 2, 2022.
  • "Letting Accountability Dictate US-Saudi Relationship," Inkstick, October 21, 2022. ​
  • “U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine Breaks All Precedents," Stimson Center, October 20, 2022.
  • “US Security Cooperation with Gulf OPEC States Amidst Energy Cuts," Stimson Center, October 17, 2022.
  • "Ukraine Aid Strains U.S. Defense Stockpiles," Stimson Center, July 25, 2022
  • "The Risks of U.S. Military Assistance to Ukraine," Stimson Center, July 13, 2022.*
  • ​"The Risks of US Military Assistance to Ukraine," Defense One, July 5, 2022.*​
  • "Drone Warfare in Ukraine: Understanding the Landscape," Stimson Center, June 30 2022.
  • "HIMARS Marks Evolution in US Weapons Transfers to Ukraine," Stimson Center, June 2, 2022.
  • ​​"Ukraine to Set Record for U.S. Security Assistance," Stimson Center, May 23, 2022.
  • "Taking Stock of ATT Reporting Trends and Challenges," Stimson Center, April 2022.*
  • ​"Under Caution: Assessing Arms Transfer Risk in Ukraine," Stimson Center, March 7, 2022.*
  • "NATO’s Frontline – How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine is Shaping Security Cooperation with the Baltics," Stimson Center, March 2, 2022. 
  • "U.S. Military Assistance to Ukraine," The Stimson Center, January 26, 2022. 
  • ​"U.S. Security Partnership and the Protection of Civilians: Government of Ethiopia & the Ethiopian National Defense Force," Security Assistance Monitor, December 20, 2021.*
  • "Demystifying End-Use Monitoring in U.S. Arms Exports," Security Assistance Monitor, Center for Civilians in Conflict & Stimson Center, September 2021.*
  • ​"The Expanding Scope of U.S. Security Assistance Since 9/11," Security Assistance Monitor, September 2021*
  • "Issue Brief: The Arms Left Behind in Afghanistan," Security Assistance Monitor, September 2021.
  • "US trained Khashoggi's killers. A review of all military training programs is necessary" CNN, August 30, 2021.*
  • "Why American Security Cooperation Must Become More Transparent," The National Interest, August 2, 2021.*
  • "Issue Brief: Israel's Exceptional Security Partnership with Washington," Security Assistance Monitor, June 2021.
  • "Ever-shifting Goalposts: Lessons From 20 Years of Security Assistance in Afghanistan," Security Assistance Monitor, June 2021.*
  • "Enduring U.S. Support for Saudi-Led Operations in Yemen," Security Assistance Monitor, June 2021.
  • "Factsheet: US Arms Sales and Security Assistance to Israel," Security Assistance Monitor, May 12, 2021.
  • “Afghanistan’s Own Security Forces Will Soon Take Over, Ready or Not,” The Baraza, April 27, 2021.
  • “Factsheet: U.S. Security Assistance in the Sahel,” Security Assistance Monitor, April 2021.*
  • "U.S. Arms Sales Trends, 2020 and Beyond: From Trump to Biden," Security Assistance Monitor, April 7, 2021.*
  • "Biden should reverse Trump's bombs sales to Saudi Arabia," The Hill, January 17, 2021.*
  • "When exceptions become the rule, 'forever wars' result," with Dan Mahanty, The Hill, December 8, 2020.
  • "The UAE’s Role in the Yemen War, 2015 to Present,” Security Assistance Monitor, December 3, 2020.*​
* indicates additional authors
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