al-Assad, Bashar

Bashar al-Assad (b.1965). A Syrian politician and military officer who served as the 19th President of Syria from 2000 to 2024. He succeeded his father, Hafez al-Assad, continuing the family’s authoritarian rule over Syria for more than five decades.

Early Life and Education

Born in Damascus, Syria, Assad initially pursued a career in medicine. He graduated from the University of Damascus in 1988 and later studied ophthalmology in London. His political trajectory changed in 1994 when his elder brother died in a car crash, leading to Assad’s recall to Syria to assume the role of heir apparent.

Rise to Power

Assad entered the military academy and took charge of the Syrian occupation of Lebanon in 1998. Following his father’s death on June 10, 2000, he became president on July 17, 2000, through an unopposed electoral process.

Presidency

Initially, there were hopes that the UK-educated Assad would bring reform to Syria. However, these expectations were quickly dashed as his rule became more repressive than his father’s. Key aspects of his presidency included:

1. Suppression of dissent and human rights violations
2. Economic liberalization programs that worsened inequalities
3. Forced end to Syrian occupation of Lebanon in 2005
4. Alignment with Russia and Iran

Syrian Civil War

In 2011, Assad’s brutal crackdown on Arab Spring protests led to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War. Over 600,000 people were killed during the conflict, with pro-Assad forces causing more than 90% of total civilian deaths. The Assad regime was accused of numerous war crimes, including chemical attacks, leading to international condemnation and isolation.

Downfall

On December 8, 2024, following a lightning offensive by Syrian rebels, Assad fled to Moscow and was granted political asylum by the Russian government. This marked the sudden end of his 24-year rule and the Assad family‘s iron grip on Syria.

Throughout his tenure, Assad’s regime was characterized as a highly personalist dictatorship, governing Syria as a totalitarian police state. Despite describing his government as secular, political scientists noted that his regime exploited sectarian tensions in the country

Bashar al-Assad was named as Top 20 Authoritarian or Fascist Figures (Jim Luce, 2025) Enemies of the People: Global Tyrants Who Strangle Liberty (March 8, 2025).