Bashar al-Assad, born on September 11, 1965, in Damascus, Syria, is a political heir who assumed the presidency of Syria in 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad. His rule, which lasted until 2024, ended after a prolonged 13-year civil war. Despite initial optimism that his leadership would bring democratic reforms and economic progress, Assad maintained his father’s authoritarian approach. His efforts to suppress opposition were marked by extreme measures, including the notorious use of chemical weapons.
Bashar al-Assad was the third child of Hafez al-Assad, a Syrian military officer and member of the Ba’ath Party who rose to power as president in 1971 following a coup. The Assad family belonged to Syria’s Alawite minority, a small Islamic sect comprising about 10 percent of the population, which has held significant influence in Syrian politics since the 1960s.
Bashar received his early education in Damascus and earned a medical degree in ophthalmology from the University of Damascus in 1988. Afterward, he worked as an army doctor at a military hospital in Damascus. In 1992, he relocated to London to pursue advanced medical training. However, in 1994, his older brother Basil, who had been groomed to succeed their father, died in a car accident. Bashar, despite lacking military or political experience, was summoned back to Syria to prepare for a leadership role.
To strengthen his credibility with Syria’s powerful military and intelligence institutions, he trained at a military academy and eventually rose to the rank of colonel in the elite Republican Guard.
Hafez al-Assad also worked to shape a favorable public image for his son, who had largely remained out of the public spotlight. Bashar was placed in charge of an anticorruption campaign that removed some officials while sparing high-ranking regime figures. His reputation as a reformer was further enhanced by his role as chairman of the Syrian Computer Society, emphasizing modernization and technological progress.
“From doctor to dictator: An accidental president.”
Hafez al-Assad passed away on June 10, 2000. Just hours after his death, the national legislature amended the constitution to lower the minimum presidential age from 40 to 34, aligning it with Bashar al-Assad’s age at the time. On June 18, Bashar was appointed secretary- general of the ruling Ba’ath Party, and two days later, the party congress officially nominated him as their presidential candidate. The national legislature swiftly endorsed the nomination, and on July 10, Bashar was elected to a seven-year term as president, running unopposed.
While many Syrians opposed the hereditary transfer of power from Hafez al-Assad to his son, Bashar’s rise to the presidency sparked a sense of hope both domestically and internationally. His youth, education, and familiarity with Western culture suggested the potential for change from the entrenched authoritarian regime, dominated by a sprawling network of security and intelligence agencies, and a stagnant, state-controlled economy heavily dependent on dwindling oil reserves. In his inaugural address, Bashar pledged to pursue economic reforms and promised limited political changes, though he dismissed Western-style democracy as unsuitable for Syria’s political landscape. And here begins the tale of the tyranny and oppression inflicted upon Syria by the ruling despot.
Western optimism for a more moderate Syria quickly faded as Bashar al-Assad upheld his country’s longstanding alliances with militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. International criticism intensified after his regime responded to the 2011 pro-democracy protests with extreme violence. In May 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama condemned Assad’s actions, stating that his regime had “chosen the path of murder and the mass arrests of its citizens” and urged him to either lead a democratic transition or step aside. Assad has consistently secured re-election with overwhelming majorities every seven years, most recently in 2021. However, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy denounced the 2021 election as fraudulent.
“Syria’s civil war: a decade of destruction.”
During the civil war that erupted following the government’s violent suppression of the 2011 pro- democracy protests, Assad’s forces gained notoriety for their ruthless tactics. The conflict saw the rise of an armed opposition, composed of various grassroots militias and some defectors from the Syrian military. In 2013, UN weapons inspectors presented “overwhelming and indisputable” evidence of nerve gas being used in Syria. The attack, which occurred on August 21 in the suburbs of Damascus, was described by then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon as the worst use of weapons of mass destruction in the 21st century.
” The United States claimed that the assault may have killed over 1,400 people, including hundreds of civilians. Syrian officials, however, have consistently rejected accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The attack, along with others, prompted global powers to take action to dismantle the regime’s chemical weapons stockpile and led the United States in 2013 to increase its support for Syrian opposition forces, after what Washington described as the crossing of a “red line.” Assad cautioned Western nations against supporting rebel groups fighting his forces, warning that the militants would eventually turn their attention to the US and other countries. Later, in 2015, he stated that Syria would not join the US-led coalition aimed at defeating the ISIS terror group, which had seized control of parts of Syria during the ongoing conflict. The conflict has become a defining aspect of Assad’s harsh legacy, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths, with the United Nations reporting earlier this year that more than 7 million people have been displaced within Syria and over 6 million have sought refuge abroad. Assad is notorious for his brutal rule over Syria, which has been devastated by a civil war since 2011.
The conflict turned the country into a breeding ground for the extremist group ISIS and sparked an international proxy war, leading to a refugee crisis that displaced millions. The war began when Assad’s regime refused to yield to widespread pro-democracy protests during the Arab Spring. Instead, the government launched a ruthless crackdown on the peaceful demonstrators, killing and imprisoning thousands in the early months. Assad’s forces have faced widespread accusations of severe human rights abuses and brutal attacks on civilians throughout the 13- year conflict, including the use of chemical weapons against their own people. At the onset of the war, the United States, Jordan, Turkey, and the European Union all called for Assad’s resignation. However, the heavily sanctioned and internationally isolated regime has managed to hold on to power, largely due to the support of powerful allies, Russia and Iran, as well as a relentless campaign against opposition forces.
“Economic hardships in Syria: cost of conflicts”
In 2021, Assad secured a fourth term in office, with officials reporting that he had won 95% of the vote. However, the opposition once again condemned the election as a sham, while Western nations argued that it was neither free nor fair. The president was then forced to shift his focus to managing an economic crisis that caused the Syrian pound to crash on the black market, driving up the prices of basic goods. The economic hardship sparked angry protests in areas under government control, marking the first such demonstrations since the uprising began. In 2023, protesters in the southern province of Suweida openly demanded Assad’s removal, reviving the calls of the 2011 pro-democracy uprising, while even some of Assad’s fellow Alawites voiced criticism. The government attributed the crisis to Western sanctions and the banking collapse in Lebanon, yet the state also struggled with widespread corruption. Members of Assad’s family and other figures in the ruling elite accumulated vast fortunes, with some even facing accusations of being involved in the multi-billion-dollar trade of the amphetamine Captagon — allegations the government denied. Meanwhile, efforts to reintegrate Assad and his government gained momentum among predominantly Sunni Arab states, which had previously supported the opposition but now saw the president as secure in power.
This thaw in relations sped up after the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and north-western Syria, with once- hostile nations sending humanitarian aid to areas controlled by the government. In May, Assad was warmly received at an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, where he discussed “a historic opportunity to reshape our affairs with minimal foreign interference.
“The endgame: the collapse of Assad’s regime”
The downfall of Bashar al-Assad seemed nearly impossible just a week prior, when rebels launched their surprising offensive against the regime from their stronghold in Idlib, in north- western Syria. Assad will be remembered as the leader who brutally suppressed peaceful protests against his regime in 2011, an act that triggered a civil war. Over half a million people lost their lives, while six million others were forced to flee as refugees. With backing from Russia and Iran, Assad was able to crush the rebels and retain control. Russia provided crucial air support, while Iran sent military advisors to Syria and Hezbollah, its Lebanese ally, deployed experienced fighters.
This time, however, the situation was different. His allies, focused on their own priorities, effectively abandoned him. Without their support, Assad’s forces were unable and in some cases, unwilling to halt the rebels, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al- Sham (HTS). Assad persisted in rejecting calls to participate in a UN-led political process, even into 2024, when the Syrian civil war was reignited by the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. On November 27, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which controlled the rebels’ final stronghold in the north- west, along with allied factions, declared the launch of an offensive.
They first captured Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, last week, with little opposition. Then they took Hama, followed by the strategic city of Homs days later. As insurgents advanced from the east and south, the offensive effectively isolated Damascus. Within hours, fighters reached the capital, the heart of Assad’s power. And thus came to an end the era of oppression and brutality. More than 50 years of harsh dictatorship, the Assad family has lost control of Syria, following an unexpectedly rapid rebel offensive.
On Sunday, Russia announced that Assad had resigned and left Syria, just hours after rebels entered the capital and proclaimed that “the tyrant” had fled. Russian media later quoted a Kremlin source, revealing that Assad had traveled to Moscow, where he was granted asylum on “humanitarian grounds.” However, there was no statement from Assad himself as Syrians took to the streets, celebrating in disbelief at the sudden end of nearly five decades of dynastic rule.
“Turning the page: the rebirth of a nation rising from the ashes of oppression, but what comes next?”
The end of the Assad family’s five-decade rule will significantly alter the region’s power dynamics.
Once again, Iran is facing a major setback. Under Assad, Syria served as a crucial link between Iran and Hezbollah, playing a key role in facilitating the transfer of weapons and ammunition to the group. Hezbollah has been significantly weakened following its year-long conflict with Israel, leaving its future uncertain. Another Iranian-backed group, the Houthis in Yemen, has been repeatedly targeted in airstrikes. Together with militias in Iraq and Hamas in Gaza, these factions make up what Tehran calls the Axis of Resistance, which has now been severely weakened seemingly. This shift in dynamics will be welcomed in Israel, where Iran is seen as a direct existential threat. Many believe this offensive could not have unfolded without Turkey’s approval.
Although Turkey supports certain rebel groups in Syria, it has denied backing HTS. For a while, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had urged Assad to enter into talks aimed at finding a diplomatic resolution to the conflict that would enable the return of Syrian refugees. There are at least three million refugees in Turkey, and the issue is a sensitive one domestically. But Assad refused to do so. Many are relieved to see Assad gone, but the question remains: what comes next? As for the HTS group leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the main rebel group, in his first public comments in Damascus, called Assad’s overthrow a “victory for the entire Islamic nation.” The rebels, led by Jolani’s HTS group. They have promised that minorities will be safeguarded.
However, many remain skeptical, concerned about their intentions following the fall of the regime. At the same time, these dramatic changes could create a dangerous power vacuum, potentially leading to chaos and even greater violence. US President Joe Biden praised the collapse of the Assad regime, calling it a “historic opportunity” for the long-suffering Syrian people to create a brighter future. However, he also warned that it marks a time of significant risk and uncertainty for the region. Let it be well remembered that the United States had previously placed a $10 million bounty on Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. However, given the shifting dynamics in the region, the Biden administration is reportedly reviewing the possibility of reversing this decision. With a keen focus on the rapidly changing situation, the U.S. is strategizing to leverage this opportunity to expand its influence and create a broader foothold in the region. This new development indicates a possible shift in Israel’s approach toward operations against Hamas and Hezbollah. An Israeli television channel has even claimed that Palestine and Israel are close to reaching a ceasefire agreement. Israel seems unable to fully comprehend the complexities of the current situation, which is why it has chosen to adopt a neutral stance for now.
The most critical role to watch here will be that of Russia, as it remains the strongest supporter of the Assad regime and will not easily allow its influence in Syria to diminish. Global experts are closely monitoring any moves Russia might make in this regard, considering them of significant importance. The apparent beneficiary of this entire situation seems to be Turkey. Some sources claim that from the very next day of Bashar al-Assad’s potential departure, the head of Turkish intelligence has been consistently present in Damascus. For Turkey, this is a golden opportunity to address its issues with the Kurds, as a large portion of Syria is still under Kurdish control, something Turkey views as detrimental to its interests.
The rapidly changing situation is a matter of urgency, and within a few weeks, the regional dynamics will become clearer. It remains to be seen who will ultimately benefit from this scenario: the Syrian people, Turkey, the United States, or Israel.