Bashar al-Assad
1965 – ? Syrian President of Syria
London-trained eye doctor who inherited the Syrian presidency and led it through civil war.
- Religion
- Alawite (a branch of Shia Islam).
- Affiliations
- President of Syria; leader of the Ba'ath Party until his overthrow.
Trained as an ophthalmologist in London, he was thrust into politics after his elder brother Bassel died and succeeded his father as president in 2000. His violent response to the 2011 uprising triggered a long civil war, and his rule collapsed in an opposition offensive in late 2024.
Connections
- family of Hafez al-Assad — His father, whom he succeeded.
- family of Hafez al-Assad — His son and successor as president.
In the timeline
- 2011 – 2024 Syrian Civil War mentioned