Bashar al-Assad

A Biographical Summary of Bashar al-Assad

Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria, a position he has held since 2000. Born in Damascus in 1965, he is the son of Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly three decades. Bashar initially pursued a career in medicine, graduating from Damascus University with a degree in ophthalmology.

He later went on to specialize in ophthalmology in London. After his older brother, Basil, died in a car accident in 1994, Bashar was groomed by his father to become the next leader of Syria. He joined the Syrian Arab Army and studied political science at the University of Damascus.

Following his father's death in 2000, Bashar al-Assad assumed the presidency at the age of 34. Early in his presidency, he implemented some economic reforms and attempted to improve relations with the West. However, his rule became increasingly authoritarian, and he faced criticism for human rights abuses and suppression of dissent. The outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 further intensified the scrutiny of his leadership, with allegations of war crimes and brutality against his regime.