Early life
Nournews: Bashar Hafez al-Assad was born on September 11, 1965, in Damascus, Syria. He was the second son of Hafez al-Assad, the former president of Syria, and Anisa Makhlouf. Bashar grew up in a powerful and politically influential Alawite family. Unlike his brother Bassel, who was groomed to succeed their father, Bashar showed little interest in politics and pursued a medical career.
He graduated from Damascus University Medical School in 1988 and worked as an ophthalmologist. Later, he went to London for further training in the field.
Entering politics
Bashar’s life took a dramatic turn in 1994 when his brother Bassel, the intended heir, died in a car accident. Bashar returned to Syria and gradually entered politics. He received military training and secured a position in the Ba'ath Party.
After Hafez al-Assad’s death in 2000, Bashar became president. To make this possible, the Syrian Parliament lowered the minimum age for presidency, allowing Bashar, then 34, to take power.
Presidency and Syrian developments
At the beginning of his presidency, Bashar promised economic and political reforms. He aimed to modernize Syria by promoting new technologies and slightly opening the economy. However, these reforms were never fully realized.
In 2011, as the Arab Spring protests swept through the region, Syria also experienced widespread demonstrations. These protests quickly escalated into armed conflict and eventually a devastating civil war.
During the war, terrorist groups like ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and others, as well as Kurdish separatists, clashed with the Syrian army and occupied large areas of the country, establishing independent administrations.
Several countries, including the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, provided financial, military, and political support to Assad’s opponents, intensifying the conflict.
With support from Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah, Assad’s government managed to defeat many terrorist groups and regain control over much of the territory.
Personal life
In 2000, Bashar married Asma al-Akhras, a British-Syrian woman who worked in banking. Asma played a significant role in shaping Bashar’s image as a modern leader. The couple has three children: Hafez, Zein, and Karim.
Challenges
Throughout his 24-year rule, Bashar faced many challenges, including a civil war, humanitarian crises, international sanctions, and economic pressures.
Syria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, and Assad's government, which heavily relies on the Alawite community, faced serious challenges in managing ethnic and sectarian tensions. This issue caused a large portion of the country's Sunni population to take a stance against him.
Since 2011, the U.S. military and Turkish-backed groups have occupied parts of Syria, posing a constant threat to his government.
International pressure and sanctions
The Assad government has faced severe international sanctions over allegations of human rights violations and the use of chemical weapons. These sanctions crippled Syria’s economy and weakened the central government.
Fall
Jabhat al-Nusra (now known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), supported by Turkey, had been stationed in Idlib under a 2018 agreement. Recently, they launched large-scale operations, advancing from Aleppo in northern Syria toward Damascus.
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, in collaboration with other armed groups attacking from the south, captured Damascus and overthrew Assad’s government, ending his 24-year rule.
Reports indicate that Assad left Damascus on a private plane to an undisclosed location following the rebels’ entry into the capital.
NOURNEWS