Assad ruled Syria for almost 24 years. As he fled Damascus, the family’s rule of more than 50 years ended.
Bashar al-Assad was born in damascus in 1965. His family belongs to the Alawite Islamic minority. His father Hafez al-Assad came to power in a coup in 1970. The trained ophthalmologist showed little interest in politics at first. His brother Basil was first appointed to be the head of state of Syria. But he died in a car accident in 1994.
Bashar al-assad then returned from London, underwent military training and succeeded his father in 2000. He officially became head of state through a referendum in which he was the only candidate.
Legend:
In 2000, Bashar al-Assad (right) was elected president and commander of the Syrian army.
Reuters (01.08.2000)
After taking office, Assad was initially seen as the hope of the nation, showing himself to be close to the people and more liberal than his father. Bashar al-Assad released political prisoners and allowed more open discourse, known as the “Damascus Spring”. At first he showed himself as a different elite defender. Shortly afterwards he restricted freedoms again.
Assad was initially seen as a reformer and a bearer of hope for the Syrian people.
Instead, Assad turned to economic reforms. He removed economic restrictions, allowed foreign banks into the country and promoted the private sector. In terms of foreign policy, Assad followed his father’s anti-Israel policy and saw Iran as his ally.
2011: the turning point
In 2011, the Arab Spring reached Syria and protests began against Assad’s rule. Demonstrators demanded more freedoms. Assad responded with violence and brutally suppressed the peaceful protests. The uprising escalated into a civil war that claimed nearly 500,000 victims.Over twelve million were displaced. In 2013, over 1,000 Syrians died from poison gas attacks. In an interview with Rundschau 2016, Assad denied any responsibility. Rather, he accuses Western states of being to blame for the situation in Syria.
Legend:
In March 2011, the initially peaceful protests in Syria escalated and were violently suppressed under Assad’s leadership.
Keystone/AJ/DN (01.10.2011)
In recent years, the Syrian conflict has developed into a proxy war: Iran and Russia supported the regime, Turkey supported the Islamic rebels in the north and the US supported the Kurds in the northeast. Russia’s intervention and support for the Hezbollah militia helped Assad maintain his position in power.
Legend:
bashar al-Assad with his wife Asma. He has three children with her.
reuters (21.03.2016)
The Assad family has had a major influence on Syrian politics. Assad’s younger brother, Maher, headed the elite presidential guard and led the crackdown on the protests. His sister Bushra was an important voice in his inner circle,as was her husband,Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat. He was killed in a bomb attack in 2012. Bashar’s cousin, Rami Makhlouf, was the country’s biggest businessman and built a financial empire before collapsing. Assad’s wife also played important roles until she withdrew from public life due to leukemia.
Assad used the threat of Islamic “terrorists” to present himself as a guarantor of security. Under his leadership, the Syrian security apparatus expanded a network of detention centers to lock up government critics.Prisoners are said to have been abused there.
2024: short-term Assad returns to the political stage
By the end of November, the frozen conflict that had been going on since 2011 appeared to have eased. The Assad government had regained control of most of Syria. Despite continued Western sanctions, Syria was returned to the Arab League.Saudi Arabia announced in May that it would send an ambassador to Damascus again after twelve years.
The League of Arab States let Syria back in after more than a decade. (Pictured: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin salman (left) and Bashar al-Assad at the 2023 Arab League summit)
imago images/Sudan Press Agency (19.05.2023)
The offensives of the Islamist rebel alliance, led by Haiat Tahrir al-sham, began a few days ago and the seizure of power happened quickly. The Assad family’s nearly 54-year rule ends with the flight of Bashar al-Assad from the capital Damascus. This is a new era for Syria, but its further development is not yet clear.
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Members of the Assad family have held meaningful positions in the Syrian government, reinforcing the regime’s grip on power.
Keystone/AJ/DN (01.10.2011)
The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions, as millions of Syrians have sought refuge in neighboring countries and beyond. International organizations have condemned the use of chemical weapons and the targeting of civilians, yet the situation remains dire as the fighting continues and political resolution seems elusive.
As of now, the international community remains divided on how to approach the situation, with ongoing debates about military intervention, sanctions, and aid to the affected populations. The future of Syria remains uncertain as the country faces the challenge of rebuilding amidst a backdrop of devastation and division.