For decades, Syria has been scarred by haunting images, testament to the Assad family’s reign of terror over its people.
In 1982, the world watched in horror as photographs emerged from Hama, a central city reduced to rubble following a brutal government assault on a Muslim Brotherhood uprising. Estimates suggest up to 20,000 perished in the massacre.
Fast forward to 2013, and images of countless lifeless bodies, their pallor betraying the atrocity of a chemical weapons attack, shocked the world.The victims, many of them innocent children, lay strewn across a rebel-held suburb of Damascus. That same year, a former military photographer bravely smuggled out a chilling collection of images documenting the systematic torture endured by political prisoners: starvation, beatings, blinded eyes, mutilated genitals – a grim tableau of unspeakable cruelty.
“The Assad regime was devoid of compassion for its own people,” remarked Andrew J. Tabler, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former U.S. government security official. “Their decision to fire Scud missiles on their own citizens, and the horrific use of chemical weapons, revealed the chilling lengths to which they would go to cling to power.”
Comparisons were often drawn between the Assads and a real-life version of the fictional Corleone crime family. A ruthless network of brothers and cousins, they controlled every facet of Syrian life: politics, the military, the economy, even the narcotics trade. Fear permeated the nation.
“They didn’t govern – they ruled like mafia dons, treating the entire country as their personal fiefdom,” stated Ayman Abdel Nour, a former collage friend of Bashar al-Assad who eventually joined the opposition, disgusted by the regime’s refusal to embrace reforms.
Syria, a nation with a rich history spanning millennia, had become synonymous with instability following world War II. A multitude of coups had rocked the country until Hafez al-Assad seized control in 1970, transforming it into a Soviet-style police state.Leveraging sectarian divisions within Syria’s diverse mosaic of religious and ethnic groups, he maintained his grip on power.
Hafez al-Assad sought to establish Syria as a Middle Eastern powerhouse, partnering with Egypt in the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel and expanding his influence over Lebanon and the palestinian political leadership. During his 30-year reign, he constructed a network of formidable, overlapping intelligence agencies, notorious for imprisoning and silencing countless opponents.
Upon his death in 2000, the constitution was amended to allow his son, Bashar, to assume power at the age of 34.Bashar, initially perceived as a reserved and unassuming ophthalmologist who had reluctantly stepped into his father’s shoes after the untimely death of his dashing older brother Basil, was accompanied by his stylish British-Syrian wife, Asma. Early promises of political and social reforms were quickly discarded as Bashar realized the impossibility of dismantling his father’s oppressive legacy.
“Neither father nor son were willing to compromise,” explained Randa Slim, a senior fellow with the Middle East Institute in Washington.”Ultimately, this intransigence was Bashar’s downfall”.
In 2011, fueled by the Arab Spring uprisings across the Middle East, Syria’s burgeoning youth population rose up against al-Assad, demanding democracy, economic opportunities, and basic freedoms. The government’s brutal crackdown transformed peaceful protests into a full-blown civil war.
“Many doubted Bashar’s capacity to rule with the same iron fist as his father,” noted Firas maksad, a Syria expert and director of strategic outreach at the Middle East institute. “Fueled by a desire to prove his mettle, he unleashed a wave of violence perhaps even surpassing his father’s brutality.”
the Assads, members of the Alawite sect of Shia Islam, a minority in Syria, built their power base on sectarian loyalty. Supporters rallied around the slogan,”Assad or we burn the country.” Millions of refugees fled to neighboring countries as hundreds of thousands perished or disappeared.
Facing imminent defeat in 2015, Bashar turned to Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia for life support. their assistance temporarily staved off the rebels,who were dominated by Sunni Muslim jihadist groups. though, Bashar’s inability to cultivate alliances alienated these powerful backers. Weakened by conflicts with Israel and Russia’s preoccupation with the war in ukraine, these key allies could no longer prop up his faltering regime.
His own army began to crumble, despite a desperate attempt to bolster morale with a 50% pay raise. The rebels, once underestimated, finally prevailed, breaking into the infamous prisons where the assad regime had incarcerated, tortured, and executed political prisoners for years. Even the rebels seemingly caught by surprise at the swiftness of the regime’s collapse.
After over a decade of devastating conflict, Syria’s cities lie in ruins, and an entire generation of men, aged 20-40, has been decimated. “Both the infrastructure and the country’s human capital have been utterly destroyed,” lamented Abdel Nour.
what are the main factors contributing to the Assad regime’s resilience in Syria?
Interview Between Time.News Editor adn Andrew J. Tabler on the Syrian Conflict
Time.News Editor: Good day, everyone. Thank you for joining us for this critical discussion of Syria’s ongoing tragedy. Today, I’m honored to have Andrew J.tabler with us, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former U.S. government security official. Andrew, welcome.
Andrew J. Tabler: Thank you for having me. It’s important we continue to keep attention focused on Syria.
Editor: The images and accounts that have emerged from Syria over the decades are harrowing. With events stretching back to the Hama massacre in 1982, what do you think has shaped the world’s understanding of the Assad regime’s brutality?
Tabler: The Hama massacre served as a brutal introduction to the world regarding the lengths the Assad regime woudl go to maintain control. The sheer scale of violence—estimates indicate up to 20,000 lives lost—paints a picture of a regime that prioritizes power over humanity. As horrific as that was, the use of chemical weapons in 2013 shocked even the most seasoned observers, marking a further descent into barbarism.
Editor: That’s a chilling point. When we consider the systematic torture that surfaced in 2013, smuggled away by a former military photographer, what does this say about the regime’s internal dynamics?
Tabler: It illustrates a regime deeply entrenched in a culture of cruelty. The visual documentation of torture—starvation,beatings—reveals a systematic approach to instilling fear and suppressing dissent. The Assad regime was not just oppressing; it was enacting a calculated strategy of terror against its citizens. This internal mechanism functions as a reminder to citizens regarding their place in the power hierarchy.
Editor: you’ve compared the Assad family to a mafia organization, leading us to think about the structure of their rule. How does this mafia-like governance manifest in the daily lives of Syrians?
Tabler: Absolutely, it’s a stark analogy. The Assad regime operates much like a crime syndicate.Every aspect of Syrian life—from politics to military decisions, from the economy to even narcotics—falls under their tight grip. This is why fear is pervasive; people live under constant threat of violence for any form of dissent. As Ayman Abdel Nour noted, the regime doesn’t govern; it rules with an iron fist, creating a society were loyalty is enforced thru fear.
Editor: Speaking of fear, how does the existence of such a regime impact international response and policies toward Syria?
Tabler: It complicates international action substantially. The fear of destabilizing the region or the complexity of intervening in such a situation frequently enough leads to a hesitance among global powers. However, the international community must grapple with a moral responsibility to protect civilians. The use of chemical weapons crossed a line, yet responses have varied, often lacking the decisive action required to bring about meaningful change.
editor: As we look toward the future, what are your thoughts on the possibility of reform within Syria? Given the deeply entrenched nature of the Assad regime, is there a path forward?
Tabler: It’s challenging. The regime’s resistance to reform has led to a stalemate many did not anticipate. Moves toward meaningful change will require both internal and external pressures; however, the regime has successfully tied both political and economic avenues to a network that benefits only the few. Without significant international pressure and a unified opposition, change within Syria remains a daunting task.
Editor: Andrew, thank you for your insights today. Shedding light on the complexities of the Assad regime and the plight of the Syrian people is vital as we consider the international community’s role and responsibility moving forward.
Tabler: Thank you for having me. It’s critical to keep the conversation going and ensure that the voices of the Syrian people are heard.
Editor: Absolutely. Let’s continue to watch this space as it unfolds. Thank you to our audience for joining us today.