alAssads
The al-Assads refers to the Syrian political dynasty that has dominated the country since the 1970s. The family is of Alawite origin from Qardaha in Latakia Governorate and includes several prominent politicians and military leaders. The most well-known members are Hafez al-Assad (born 1930), who ruled Syria as president from 1971 until his death in 2000, and his son Bashar al-Assad (born 1965), who has led the country since 2000. The regime’s authority has rested on the Ba'ath Party, centralized control of the security services, and a network of family, military, and business allies.
Rise to power and rule: Hafez al-Assad came to prominence within the Ba'ath Party and consolidated power
Bashar al-Assad era: Bashar inherited a system built by his father, with limited political liberalization in
Notable figures and networks: Rifaat al-Assad, Hafez’s brother, led a failed 1984 coup and spent years in