Bashar al-Assad’s nearly 14-year rule in Syria ended with his weekend flight to Russia, concluding a civil war that became a battleground for global and regional powers.
However, the Assad who emerged on the world stage differed significantly from initial expectations.
Originally, Bashar’s older brother Basil, groomed by their father Hafez Assad, was slated to succeed him. Basil’s 1994 death in a Damascus car accident thrust Bashar, then practicing ophthalmology in London, into the line of succession. He underwent military training, ultimately attaining the rank of colonel.
Hafez Assad’s nearly 30-year reign established a Soviet-style centralized economy, forged an alliance with Iran’s Shiite leadership, asserted Syrian dominance over Lebanon, and cultivated a network of Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups.
Following Hafez’s death in 2000, the presidential age requirement was lowered to 34, paving the way for Bashar’s uncontested election as president through a nationwide referendum.
Initially, Bashar presented a stark contrast to his father. Tall, slender, quiet, and possessing a gentle demeanor, he was perceived as a tech-savvy individual—his only prior official position being head of the Syrian Computer Society.
Bashar’s early tenure involved releasing political prisoners and fostering a more open dialogue.
Several months into his presidency, he married Asma al-Akhras, a British-born woman known for her beauty and style, with whom he later had three children.
The couple resided in an apartment in Damascus’s upscale Abu Rummaneh neighborhood, unlike the palatial lifestyles of many Arab leaders.
Asma, born in Acton, West London, to a Sunni family, was dubbed Syria’s “Princess Diana.”
She held degrees in computer science and French literature from Queen’s College London and worked as a hedge fund analyst before marrying Bashar in a 2000 “secret” wedding at the ages of 35 and 25 respectively.
As Bashar’s rule continued, the situation shifted.
The 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri led to Syria’s loss of decades-long control over Lebanon, with many accusing Bashar of involvement. Syria withdrew its troops, and a pro-American government took power.
Simultaneously, the Arab world fractured, dividing into U.S.-aligned Sunni-led nations (like Egypt and Saudi Arabia) and a bloc encompassing Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, and Palestinian militants.
Bashar appointed family members to key positions, entrusting significant roles to Asma as well.
The 2011 uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt were dismissed by Bashar, despite his security forces’ brutal crackdown on protests. He attributed the unrest to “foreign-backed terrorists” aiming to destabilize his regime.
The uprising escalated into a full-scale civil war, forcing millions of Syrians to flee to neighboring countries and Europe.
In March 2011, Vogue magazine published a profile of Asma, hailing her as a “Rose in the Desert,” but this article, portraying the Assads as progressive and intelligent, was removed online following Assad’s violent response to dissent.
In 2012, WikiLeaks revealed Asma’s private emails, detailing lavish spending—approximately $350,000 on 130 furniture pieces—amidst the ongoing civil war. Reports surfaced of purchases such as $7,000 crystal-encrusted shoes, shipped to Dubai to circumvent sanctions.
Their ultra-modern presidential mansion, designed by Kenzo Tange, reportedly cost $1 billion, with a single room’s Italian marble tile installation costing an estimated $10.6 million.
On a day when Bashar allegedly used sarin gas on civilians in Khan Sheikhoun, Asma posted a photo of herself in a stylish polka-dotted dress, appearing pensive yet smiling.
Asma’s social media portrayed a humanitarian image, showcasing photos of her reading to children and comforting the family of a Syrian victim of the civil war, often using the hashtag #WeLoveYouAsma.
This starkly contrasted with news footage showing Syrian children dead from poison gas, allegedly deployed by her husband.
In May, Syrian officials announced Asma’s leukemia diagnosis, prompting her temporary withdrawal from public life. Acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive cancer affecting the bone marrow and blood, was cited, in addition to prior breast cancer treatment.
Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi and